Celebrate Older Americans Month by Finding Benefit Programs that Can Help You

News provided by

May 16, 2012, 11:00 ET

Free BenefitsCheckUp® Screening Provides Economic Security for Struggling Older Adults

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year's Older Americans Month celebration reminds older adults that they're "Never Too Old to Play." This month, BenefitsCheckUp® also wants to remind older adults and their caregivers to get a free screening for benefits that could help them pay for food, health care, and more.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100615/NCOALOGO)

BenefitsCheckUp® is the nation's most comprehensive web-based service to screen seniors with limited income for benefits programs. By visiting www.BenefitsCheckUp.org, seniors can get help from more than 2,000 federal, state, and local programs that offer assistance with health care, prescription drugs, food, housing, utility bills, and more. For many programs, they can even apply online.

Local and state agencies across the country are encouraged to use Older Americans Month as an opportunity to promote BenefitsCheckUp® to older adult clients in their community.

"Struggling older adults want to 'get out and play' just like everyone else," said Marlene Schneider, vice president for decision support services at the National Council on Aging (NCOA). "By getting this comprehensive screening, seniors of limited means may be able to find hundreds of valuable benefits, allowing them to live with dignity and economic security."

Developed and maintained by NCOA, BenefitsCheckUp® is continually updated to account for changes in benefits eligibility, making it quick and easy for seniors to access updated program information and application forms.

More information on Older Americans Month can be found at www.olderamericansmonth.aoa.gov and more information on BenefitsCheckUp® can be found at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for millions of older adults—especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. For more information, please visit: www.NCOA.org |www.facebook.com/NCOAging | www.twitter.com/NCOAging

About BenefitsCheckUp®
Developed and maintained by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation's most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. It includes almost 2,000 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since 2001, more than 3.1 million people have used the service, identifying benefits valued at more than $11.5 billion. For more information, visit www.benefitscheckup.org.

SOURCE National Council on Aging