Page 7 - Senior Times South Central Michigan - July 2016 - 23-07

Social Security Helps
Senior Times - July 2016 Page 7
Timeless Furnishings
Veterans Access Benefits
Antiques & Consignment
By: Doug Nguyen, Regional Communications Director, SSA
Carolyn W. Colvin, the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, and other leaders in the fight to end home- lessness gathered recently to continue the ongoing battle against homelessness among Veterans, seniors and other vul- nerable populations.
“Social Security plays a key role in reducing homelessness, and our ben- efit payments help people to secure
and maintain stable housing,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said. “Social Security is the most successful anti- poverty program in our country’s his- tory and collaborates with other federal, state and local agencies to ensure that Veterans, people who are disabled, have lost a loved one, or are retiring have access to our benefits and services.”
Acting Commissioner Colvin joined with federal and state officials to dis- cuss initiatives to end homelessness and outreach programs to vulnerable popu- lations, including Veterans, at a forum called “Ending Homelessness: Lessons Learned from the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Representatives from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Virginia Department
of Veterans Services, and the Virginia Housing Alliance participated in the discussion.
In 2015, Virginia announced that
it had ended homelessness among Veterans. Many federal and state agen- cies are looking to replicate best prac- tices from Virginia’s success in their respective states.
Social Security has collaborated
with other federal agencies to develop key strategies for connecting Veterans and other individuals experiencing homelessness to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits. Through partnerships across the country with the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) initiative, the
agency receives more complete dis- ability applications. They have a higher rate of approval on the initial applica- tion because someone is helping the applicant, especially homeless people who have difficulty documenting their cases and getting their medical records. SOAR is a national project, funded by the SAMHSA, designed to increase access to SSI and SSDI for eligible adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have a mental ill- ness, medical impairment, and/or a co- occurring substance use disorder. The SOAR project provides training on how to complete the SSI/SSDI application to service providers working with indi- viduals experiencing homelessness.
Veterans are at an increased risk of both homelessness and disability. Social Security offers several initia- tives to accelerate processing disabil- ity benefit claims from Veterans.
Since 2005, the agency has provided expedited processing of disability applications for wounded warriors who have suffered an injury or illness while serving on active duty after October 1, 2001.
Beginning in 2014, disability appli- cations for those with a Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation rating
of 100% receive expedited processing for Social Security disability benefits. Social Security worked with the VA
to set up a data exchange to identify these Veterans when they first apply
for Social Security or SSI benefits. The agency is proud to support efforts to take care of Veterans who have sacri- ficed so much.
For more information about wound- ed warriors and Veterans who have a compensation rating of 100%, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/veterans.
For additional information about the SOAR project and initiatives to help people experiencing homelessness, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/homelessness
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0 14,000 sq-ft of timeless treasures under one roof 0 Check out our schedules!
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May 21, 22 / Jun 18, 19 Jul 16, 17 / Aug 20, 21 Sep 17, 18 / Oct 15, 16
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Miles For Memories
60 S. 20th St, Battle Creek, MI 49015 ❖ 269.719.2013 ❖ timelessfurnishings@aol.com
CHAPEL HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
157 Chapel Hill Drive, (269) 963-0231, www.chapelhill-umc.org
• Rev. Chad Parmalee, Pastor
• Traditional Service 9am; Praise Service 11am • Breakfast served all morning
• Barrier Free
• Nursery provided all morning
ST. PHILIP CATHOLIC CHURCH
126 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017
• Fr. John Fleckenstein, V.E. & Fr. Francis Marotti, Assoc. Pastor • Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:30pm; Sun. 9am, 11:30am
If you’re homebound and would like the weekly bulletin mailed to you, please call the Parish Office at (269) 968-6645.
WESTLAKE PRESBYTERIAN
415 S. 28th Street, Battle Creek, MI 49015
• Paster Kate Johnston
• Adult Sunday School 9:15am
• Church Service 10:30am
• Children are released from the Service after children’s time
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By: Christyn McCleary
It’s time to starting forming your teams for the upcoming Miles for Memories Signature event coming to downtown Battle Creek on September 17. The event is dedicated to those impacted by dementia and their caregiv- ers. You can stroll down the avenue in the half-mile or mile Community Stroll, or sign up for the 5K walk or run at www.itsyourrace.com. The Community Stroll is free, but donations are always welcome, and the 5K is just $25. Do you want a commemorative t-shirt this year? It’s just $5 more.
We invite you to create a team this year and raise a few dollars for a great cause. Fill your team with family mem- bers, friends, co-workers, and more. Special memory signs are available for purchase as well.
Would you rather volunteer? We are hoping to pair volunteers with each of our seniors in the Community Stroll. Make a new friend and learn a little
bit more about your community as you stroll along. Volunteers will also be needed on the course and at registra- tion.
Can’t make it out on September 17? Feel free to make a donation online
at www.bccfoundation.org. Miles
for Memories can be found under Community Project Funds. Dollars help to support programs under develop- ment as well as those already launched from emergency recovery programs,
emergency respite program, movement therapy programs from art to music, research, including community updates, non-emergency respite and safety pro- grams, and more.
Join us September 17 in downtown Battle Creek and help us to make a difference in Calhoun County. Start time is 9am from Wave Square.
Miles for Memories is a grassroots organization creating solutions for those impacted by dementia in Calhoun County through movement, program- ming and research. For more informa- tion call (269) 979-1412 or visit Miles for Memories on Facebook or at www. scenepub.com/milesformemories. Listen for weekly updates on WBCK Tuesday’s at 8:54am.
9•17•2016
Come Stroll, Walk or Run With Us!
Sign-Up Open
0 Paint DIY ☛ Over 100 vendor spaces available
VENDORS WANTED
☛ Accepting food vendors
☛ For vendor details contact Joshua Morris at
(269) 719-2013 or jmorris@chalkcounty.com ☛ Facebook/chalkcounty