Dude, where's my Golden Buckeye Card?

Below are a few splices from a recent article in the Ohio Department of Aging's e-newsletter Boomerang: It All Comes Back to You - September 2011.
View the entire article at: http://www.aging.ohio.gov/news/boomerang/2011september/myfuture.asp

Dude, where's my Golden Buckeye Card?
Find it or replace it, then start using it!

At this year's Ohio State Fair, staff at the Department of Aging's booth in the marketplace building asked fairgoers to "show us your Golden Buckeye Card." About one in three dug through their wallets and proudly produced their cards. Another third shared that they never received one and the remainder admitted that they have the card but didn't carry it with them because they didn't think it was very valuable. Well, folks, the Golden Buckeye program is alive and well, and all Ohioans age 60 or older, as well as adults age 18 to 59 with disabilities, are eligible. So find your card, get a replacement if you need to, and start using it.

Cardholders have saved an estimated $2.5 billion since 1976. Savings will vary from 2 to 50 percent but typically are 10 percent. Golden Buckeye cardholders also can receive 10 percent off:

If you do not have prescription drug coverage, flip your Golden Buckeye Card over for valuable savings. This year alone, Golden Buckeye cardholders filled more than 125,000 prescriptions with an average savings per prescription of more than 42 percent.

You can go online at www.aging.ohio.gov to find businesses in your area that accept the Golden Buckeye card. Also, look for the Golden Buckeye logo on doors, windows and cash registers of businesses. If you don't see the logo, ask the business if they offer a senior discount. If they don't, encourage them to consider becoming a Golden Buckeye business.

Finally, we want to settle a debate. Some people at the State Fair asked when the age for the Golden Buckeye card changed from 55 to 60. The minimum age of eligibility for a Golden Buckeye card has been 60 since 1985. Prior to that (from the program's launch in 1976), the minimum age was 65. It has never been 55. Sorry about that. If you're in that range, you only have a few more years to wait, but it will be worth it.

FYI Richland County Counselors- need for help overwhelming Richland County JFS office.

MANSFIELD -- The expanding list of people falling off the unemployment benefits roll is wreaking havoc at the Richland County Job & Family Services office.

Richland County Commissioner Ed Olson said 30 percent of all people on welfare in Richland County have never been on welfare before.

He said he spoke with Sharlene Neumann, director of Richland County Job & Family Services, who reported hundreds of people who have hit 99 weeks on unemployment benefits are now showing up at Job & Family Services. It is their first time seeking assistance, and they need help navigating the system.

Unfortunately, Olson said, the local Job & Family Service staff is down from 122 employees to 77.

"It now takes six to seven weeks to process a claim," he said. "Since this recession began, the number of faces has increased 50 percent."

Olson said the local situation brings into focus the importance of support services......

View the entire article here!

Introducing... The Ohio Benefit Bank Academy!

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) is seeking applicants to participate in The Ohio Benefit Bank Academy! The OBB Academy is a year-long program designed to support and enhance the professional development of OBB counselors and/or site administrators, with the goal of enhancing the capacity and long-term sustainability of key OBB sites. Graduates of The OBB Academy will be equipped to provide local leadership for the OBB network in their communities. Travel, meals and supplies will be covered so that there is no cost to participants who complete the program. Once a month day long workshops with experts from Ohio State University Leadership Center, Central Ohio Professional Education Council among other speakers from various specialties, working one on one with participants to hone skills in areas key to capacity building and sustainability for your agency. Workshops include: - How to know if your marketing is working for you? - Grant Writing with practical exercises - Responsible and effective budgeting for your program This offer is for staff of Ohio Benefit Bank sites and partners only.

Click here to download the application. Applications are due 9/30 so don't wait! Apply today! Return applications to contactobb@oashf.org

Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks
The Ohio Benefit Bank

1.800.648.1176
614.221.4336

Find Money for College through OBB

The FAFSA form is available through The Benefit Bank Counselor-Assisted and The Benefit Bank Self-Serve.

Federal Student Aid has billions of dollars available to help pay for college.

To get these funds, students can start with The Benefit Bank where the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is available.

This form is required for any student who is applying for financial aid distributed by the federal government.

Colleges and universities use the information captured by the form to determine eligibility for federal student aid including grants, loans, and work-study.

Uncover the 7 Myths of Financial Aid and learn more about FAFSA on our web site:

www.thebenefitbank.com/FAFSA

Download free outreach materials!

OBB Community Meeting and Training- Register Today!

Sept. 7-8, 2011
Don't Wait, Register Now To Guarantee Your Spot!

The 2011 Ohio Bene­fit Bank Community Meeting and Training will focus on providing a variety of educational and informational sessions to Ohio Benefi­t Bank Counselors and partners in the areas of outreach and education, policy, and resource development.

LOCATION:
Crowne Plaza
6500 Doubletree Ave.
Columbus, OH 43229
614.885.1885

ADMISSION IS FREE!
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Register Now:
www.garrisonevents.com/obb.html

QuickCheck is now available in Spanish

QuickCheck, The Benefit Bank eligibility screening tool, is now available in Spanish!

How to Access QuickCheck
Links to QuickCheck are on www.ohiobenefits.org
Links to QuickCheck are in the Counselor and Administrator Portal under the CLIENT MANAGEMENT section.

Direct Access from this post QuickCheck English QuickCheck Spanish

Lorain utility bill assistance program coming to an end

The HEAP Summer Crisis Program, which helps Lorain County residents with their electric bills, ends on August 29.

Eligible applicants qualify to receive a one-time payment towards an electric bill, up to the client's percentage of income payment plan (PIPP) or current bill amount, whichever is greater, not to exceed $175.

Households must have an income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and either (a) have at least one member of the household over 60 years old or (b) provide medical documentation of need in order to qualify.

Click here for more information from LCCAA.