Helping Hands: A Social Security Disability Attorney Blog

MAINTAIN is an assistance program through Pfizer for individuals who are currently unemployed, uninsured and in need of medications. Eligible applicants will be able to receive free Pfizer medicines delivered directly to their door for a year or until they become insured again, whichever occurs first.

To eligible for the MAINTAIN program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Became unemployed on or after January 1, 2009


• Has been prescribed and taken a Pfizer medicine for at least 3 months prior to becoming unemployed and enrolling in the program


• Have no prescription coverage


• Can confirm that you are experiencing a financial hardship


• Live within the United States

If you believe that you are eligible for the program please act quickly!!! Applications for enrollment in MAINTAIN will only be accepted through December 31, 2010. To apply for Maintain, call 1-866-706-2400 to request an application or click here to download an application from their website. Once the application is completed, mail it to MAINTAIN along with proof of your unemployment.

Travelers Aid International has launched a new website that will assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining information and access resources to help them prepare and enjoy a better travel experience. The website is www.USTRavAbility.org and according to Travelers Aid, consists of five sections: Transportation Resources; Airports; Tourism Resources; Disability Organizations and State Resources. There is also a section for visitors to share their various travel experiences.

The objective of the website is to provide a substantive resource to travelers with disabilities that will help take the worry out of their journeys and provide a better travel experience. The website's goal is to also help promote travel by persons who are elderly as well as those with disabilities and to improve the understanding of the travel industry related to persons with disabilities and thus ensure greater ease of travel in the future.

Travelers Aid International is the national association for Travelers Aid agencies across the country. The mission of Travelers Aid is to advance and support a network of human service provider organizations committed to assisting individuals and families who are in transition or crisis and are disconnected from their support systems.

For more information about Travelers Aid call 202-546-1127 or click here to visit their website.

The Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO), in collaboration with partner agencies, functions as a provider of homelessness prevention assistance and assistance to rapidly re-house people who are or are at risk of becoming homeless. Assistance is provided through their Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) and includes rental assistance, credit repair, security deposit, utility payments (not phone or cable), moving and storage costs assistance and temporary housing. In addition to homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance, the JCCEO HPRP seeks to achieve long-term housing stabilization for program clients after the subsidy ends through intensive case management.

To be eligible for HPRP assistance, you must:

• Be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;


• Live in Jefferson County; and


• Meet the low-income requirement for your family size

For more information on the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program, call 205-933-8293.

In addition to the HPRP program JCCEO offers a housing counseling program, energy assistance program, home weatherization and child development services. To learn more about these programs and services please call 205-327-7500.

If you're in need of help and not sure where to go, turn to your local Salvation Army!

The Greater Birmingham Area Command Center provides more than just disaster relief and Christmas assistance. Through the Salvation Army's Social Services Center, which is located in downtown Birmingham, homeless shelters for men, women and children are provided. The Social Services Center also administers food, financial assistance and emergency help to those in need. Along with the services that are provided by the Social Services Center, the Salvation Army also provides youth services, adult rehabilitation centers and thrift stores. All of the programs and services provided by the Salvation Army are designed to help people get back on their feet and rejoin the community. The Salvation Army accepts all persons in need who come within its sphere of influence regardless of race, color, creed, sex or age.

If you would like more information about The Greater Birmingham Area Command Center call (205) 328-2420.

The Salvation Army
Greater Birmingham Command
2100 11th Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35234

Cahaba Valley Health Care will be conducting vision, dental and blood pressure screenings on Sunday, July 11 starting at 2 pm at Riverchase United Methodist Church. Space is limited to the first 50 people on a first come, first serve basis including a designated number of spots reserved for the Hispanic outreach ministry of the church.

Patients attending a screening may receive the following:

1. Non-invasive dental exam by a dentist to assess overall dental health and needs
2. Vision services provided by a vision professional
3. Instructions on how to receive glasses
4. Vision Safety Education including information about protecting your eyes, as well as free safety glasses
5. Dental Hygiene Education including instruction on how to properly care for your teeth and nutrition tips for healthy teeth. Also, we distribute free toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and egg timers
6. Nutrition Education including instruction on how to read the food pyramid and food labels
7. High Blood Pressure Screening with referral for follow up care as needed

Riverchase Methodist Church
1953 Old Highway 31
Hoover, AL 35244
739-0885

For more information, call Lynn at 991-7762.

Here's another program to assist you while you while you wait on your Social Security benefits to process:

I heard of a really great program that helps save money on prescriptions.

FamilyWize, a program aimed at reducing the cost of medicine for children, families and individuals, have created a free prescription discount card. The program does not discriminate against anyone and can be used by everyone in your family. The card can be used as often as needed for any prescription. You can save up to 30% or more on up to 8 prescriptions. Simply present your card and prescription to a participating pharmacy to obtain the discounted price.

For more information you can contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or simply visit the FamilyWize website at www.familywize.com.

If you need assistance in applying for Social Security disability benefits, call the Cochran Firm Disability Lawyers at 1-800-THE-FIRM.

Community leaders are sponsoring this one day event, Project Homeless Connect 2010, designed to provide housing, services, and hospitality to people experiencing homelessness ina convenient one-stop format. The ultimate is to connect those that are homeless with the resources they need to help them leave the streets for better lives.

When:

April 10, 2010
Where:

Boutwell Auditorium

Are you in need of a home phone but worried about the cost of a monthly phone bill? CenturyLink Telephone Company offers their customers two discounted services to help those on a limited income. You can save money on the Lifeline and Link-Up services. Both federal programs can financially help you get a home phone while saving about $6 to $10 monthly.

Lifeline + Link-Up Services include:

• Lifeline provides certain discounts on monthly service for qualified subscribers
• Link-Up helps customers pay the initial cost of obtaining phone service.

How to Qualify?

• To get the discounted benefit, you must participate in one of the following federal programs:
• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Food Stamps
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Income below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
• Medicaid
• National School Lunch's Free Lunch Program
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

You may also qualify if you are a resident on American Indian tribal lands and receive support from:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance


• Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance to Needy Families


• Head Start or National School Lunch Program

The Enhanced Tribal Lifeline Assistance program allows participants to obtain basic monthly telephone service, at their primary residence for as little as one dollar a month. Rates depend on current rate plan.

To take advantage of these two programs, please contact CenturyLink at 1-800-201-4099 to inquire about eligibility.

With the cold weather upon us, the heat is on causing higher utility bills. Senior citizens and disabled persons can get financial assistance with their utility bills through the American Red Cross program called Project SHARE. Individuals needing assistance with the utility bills can apply for assistance through Project SHARE by contacting the American Red Cross office in their county. Electric utility customers who donate through their monthly electric bills fund the program.

To apply for assistance, call 205-458.8288.

Want a photo with Santa?? Santa will be in a sleigh outside of Belk at The Summit. Every child that has their photo taken with Santa will receive a bag of Bud's Best Cookies. Santa will be available for pictures:

Nov. 27 from 9 am to 11 am; noon to 4 pm and 5 to 9 pm.
Nov. 28 from 10 am to 11 am; noon to 4 pm
Nov. 29 from noon to 4 pm
Dec. 5 to 20 - Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 pm

Every year, the YWCA hosts Santa's Workshop to help families living in area homeless shelters and transitional housing programs. Children can make gifts for moms, dad, family, teachers, and friends. Moms can "shop" for gifts to give their children. Everything is free. Santa will even be present for photos. The workshop will be December 12, 2009, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm in the Chapel Gallery, Gymnasium, Meeting Room 3, Sloss Room and McDonald Room.

If you want to help, you can donate new items from the Santa's Workshop Wish List,. Items are needed for infants to teenagers. Please, no toy guns, violent toys or used. Items may be dropped off at the YWCA located at 309 North 23rd Street, Birmingham, Alabama, by Thursday, December 10th.

For more information contact Kari Nesbit by calling 205-322-9922 Ext. 340.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has awarded grants to nonprofit agencies that plan to offer free tax preparation services next year. The Birmingham Business Journal reports that the United Way of Central Alabama received $41,200 in grants. Almost $8 million in the matching grants were warded nationwide by the governmental agency as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.