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.

Free Prostate Cancer screenings are offered by the Mobile County Health Department now through Oct. 1,2010. The screenings will be available for insured or uninsured men between the ages of 40 - 75. Screenings are by aoppointment only at the following locaitons:
Adult Clinic
251 N. Bayou St.

Calcedeaver Clinic
1080 AA reservation Rd.

Citronelle Clinic
19250 N. Mobile St.

To schedule an appointment, call 251-690-8889.

The SALVATION ARMY NORTHSIDE FOOD PANTRY is open from 1-3 P.M. every Thursday. The Northside Food Pantry is located at 31 Saraland Blvd S. in Saraland, AL 36571.

Requirements: one visit every 90 days; must be a resident of North Mobile County; must have a current & valid driver's license and a signed Social Security card for each person.

For more information in about Salvation Army's Northside Food Pantry call 251-675-1952.

If you live in the Mobile, Alabama, area and are looking for affordable health care, visit any of the ten health centers owned and operated by Franklin Primary Health Center, Inc. Franklin is a private, non-profit primary healthcare delivery system open to all. Services include:

• Internal Medicine
• Geriatrics
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Optometry
• Dentistry
• Pedriatrics
• Family Practice
• Pharmacy
• Medical Social Work

For more information call (251) 434-8177 or visit www.Franklinprimary.org

First Aid and CPR with AED classes will be held at the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department. Learn to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies, sudden illness, and injuries in adults. Meets OSHA guidelines. Adult CPR/AED certificate valid for 1 year. First Aid Certificate valid for 3 years.

Price:

$50.00

When:

Thursday, June 17 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

Where:

Loxley Volunteer Fire Departmetn

1015 Railroad St.

Loxley, AL 36551

To register, call (251) 436-7940 or log on to www.redcrossalcoast.org.

Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. is offering free screening to look for carotid artery disease, a build up of plaque and fatty deposits causing blockage in the main artery of the neck. The screening process includes a medical history and a painless, noninvasive ultrasound.

When:

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:15 am to 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:15 am to 4:00 pm
Monday, May 24, 2010 8:15 am to 4:00 pm

Where:

Cardiovascular Associates, P.C.
1901 Springhill Ave.
Mobile, AL 36607

Screenings are free but an appointment is necessary. Please call Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. at 251-300-2240 to scheduled your free carotid screening.

Are you struggling with your mortgage? The Center for Fair Housing, Inc., and Urban Financial Services Coalition of Mobile will commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the Fair Housing Act by holding a workshop, "A Homeowners Survival Kit," sponsored by Regions Bank, Whitney Bank and the Prichard Housing Authority, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bill Clark Community Center, 2501 West Main Street, Prichard, Alabama. The workshop is free and lunch is included with registration. To register, call: 251-479-1532.

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.

Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. is offering free vein screening of the legs looking for blood clots, varicose veins, spider veins and non-healing venous stasis ulcers.

When:

Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:20 am to 4:00 pm
Friday, March 19, 2010 8:20 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 8:20 am to 4:00 pm
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:20 am to 4:00 pm
Thursday, April 1, 2010 8:20 am to 4:00 pm

Where:

Cardiovascular Associates, P.C.
1901 Springhill Ave.
Mobile, AL 36607

For more information, call 251-300-2240.

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.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) sponsors a support group for family members of those suffering from mental illness the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Meetings are held at the Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, 1507 Dauphin Street in the Family Life Center, Mobile, Alabama 36604. For more information, call Connie at 251-438-2444.

The Salvation Army Northside Food Pantry located at 31 Highway 43 South in Saraland is open from 1 - 3 pm every Thursday. To access the food pantry:

• you may visit once every 90 days;
• you must be a resident of North Mobile county;
• you must have a current valid drivers license and a signed Social Security card for each person.

For more information, call 251-675-1952.