Senior Notes

By Cora Flood

Some tidbits our readers might be useful and interesting!

The Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston is offering a New Introductory Series of Tours for Blind and Low Vision Visitors. Once a month on Saturdays at 10.30am.  The cost is FREE for those who are blind or low vision visitors with their sighted guests.  Each Saturday session will focus on a different collection of the museum and will include way finding and verbal description of the spaces. The purpose of the introductory series is to provide the context for further and deeper exploration of the museum. You can attend one, a few or all the sessions. For more information and to register you must contact Valerie Burrows, Accessibility Coordinator at 617 369 3202 or email vburrows@mfa.org ahead of time.

At home I used to play Snap, Patience, 25 and poker very poorly. What child wasn’t initiated into the fun of card games when growing up in Ireland? A good way to kill a few damp evening hours or an easy option for my granddad to keep us all entertained for the price of a box of matches.

If you are a little rusty on the tricks of whist or poker don’t despair; are looking for a reason to get out of the house on Friday afternoons I might have the thing for you. Malcolm Newbury at Kit Clark Senior Center in Dorchester is running a Card Game Bash Fridays from 2 - 4pm at their community space on 1500 Dorchester Avenue, Field’s Corner. You don’t have to be expert, just 60 years of age or older! Call (617) 825 5000 for more details.

(Source Boston Seniority Magazine February 2009 edition)

To make sure you get three square meals a day!

If you are 60 years of older; it is now easier to get Food Stamp benefits!!

There is no longer any asset test for most food stamp applicants in MA, including elders age 60 plus and persons with disabilities. As of June 2008, Dept. of Transitional Assistance (DTA) no longer counts your home or other assets such as money in the bank, car, retirement account, your home or other assets.

Your gross income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level. For example if you live alone your income before taxes must be under $1,734 per month. For two person households income must be under $2,334 per month.

Note: Persons whose income is above these income limits may still qualify, but must have less than $3,000 in countable assets.

Important: Your food stamp worker will ask about your assets just to see if you qualify for expedited (emergency) food stamps. If you have little or no income and assets, you may get food stamp benefits more quickly. Otherwise it can take 30 days to receive them.

To increase your food stamp benefits, you can claim deductions for out of pocket health care costs and high shelter costs. Send DTA proof of these expenses when you apply.

You can apply for food stamp benefits through your local Dept of Transitional Assistance (DTA). Elders do not need to go in person to DTA. You can apply by mail with phone follow up.

To apply call 1-866-950-FOOD.

(Source: Quincy Council on Aging February Newsletter)

If you have any questions about the material above or about the Senior Citizen Outreach Program of the IPC, please feel free to call Cora Flood at (617) 479 7404 x 13.