New Site to Find Senior Information

June 5, 2001 -- More than five million seniors are currently missing out on hundreds of state and federal benefits programs, but a new Web site launched today by the National Council on the Aging can help.

BenefitsCheckUp.org is the first of its kind, web-based service designed to help seniors, their families and caregivers find the right benefits programs to meet their needs. Starting today, the site contains a fast, free and confidential screening tool to determine eligibility for nearly 1,000 unique state and federal programs and provide detailed instructions on how to apply for them.

More than three million seniors are eligible for, but do not receive food stamps; 1.2 million elderly are eligible for but do not participate in Supplemental Security Income program and as many as 3 million eligible seniors do not participate in Medicaid. According to the NCOA, 29 states have underutilized pharmacy assistance programs. Many middle- and upper-income seniors are also missing out on Veteran's programs, property tax relief, nutrition programs and educational benefits.

``Every day, millions of seniors are missing out on benefits programs that can provide help with health care, transportation, income support, meals and many other important services,'' says NCOA President James Firman, EdD. ``Now, finding out what programs you qualify for and how to find them is available to anyone, anytime, anywhere ... thanks to the power of the Internet.''

The NCOA brought together several corporations and foundations including AOL Time Warner, Inc., New York Life, Lucent Technologies, the Merck Company Foundation and the Archstone Foundation to make BenefitsCheckUp available as a free service to the public. The U.S. National Institute on Aging helped fund the development of the program. The website is hosted by AOL's GovernmentGuide and is powered by Vital Aging.

``BenefitsCheckUp is a shining example of how a public and private partnership can make life easier for seniors and their families,'' says Firman. ``NCOA will be working with many national organizations, such as AARP and Catholic Charities USA, as well as many federal and state government agencies, to help seniors learn about this service and to assist them with obtaining benefits they may have missed.''

According to a study released today by America Online, over 70 percent of older Americans now go online to do information searches for themselves and their families.

``Older Americans feel the Internet improves their lives and brings families closer together,'' says B.K. Fulton, vice president of AOL Time Warner, Inc. ``We are proud to be part of a program like BenefitsCheckUp that will help so many families and seniors find the support they need -- it is another compelling reason why all seniors should participate in the digital age.''

Seniors or members of their family can fill out a confidential questionnaire at BenefitsCheckUp.org which then compares their information with eligibility requirements for federal programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Weatherization or state administered programs such as Vocational Rehabilitation and In-Home Services. Users then receive a printable report that tells them which programs they may likely qualify for and where to go to enroll.

``This service will greatly help the 1 in 4 American families involved in caregiving and will also help the millions of employees who must take time off to find care and services for an aging parent or spouse,'' says NCOA Chair Molly Mettler who is also senior vice president of Boise, ID-based Healthwise, Inc. ``What used to take days or even weeks to find out, BenefitsCheckUp can do in minutes.''

In order to ensure that seniors have wide access to BenefitsCheckUp, NCOA has launched a four-year mobilization effort involving a powerful coalition of national organizations and as many as 2,000 community groups nationwide to spread the word and provide outreach, screening and follow-up services. Model programs have already begun in Chicago, and the states of Colorado and Rhode Island and several more communities are expected to sign up within the next few months.

To find BenefitsCheckUp online, simply enter http://www.benefitscheckup.org in your web browser. AOL subscribers can use the keyword BenefitsCheckUp.

About NCOA

The National Council on the Aging is the nation's first national, nonprofit group of people and organizations dedicated to promoting the dignity, independence, well-being, and contributions of older people. Founded in 1950, NCOA has helped develop Meals-on-Wheels, Foster Grandparents and dozens of other innovative programs for older Americans. NCOA serves as a national voice and powerful advocate for public policies, societal attitudes, and business practices that promote vital aging. NCOA's members include senior centers, area agencies on aging, adult day services, faith congregations, senior housing, health centers, employment services, and consumer organizations. NCOA is proud to work with national sponsors and government agencies to make this service free to anyone seeking information on eligibility for public programs and services. For more information on NCOA and BenefitsCheckUp, visit the web site at http://www.benefitscheckup.org .