Agencies for financial aid for the elderly? (Sacramento: section 8, apartment)

[Im_wondering]

We're moving to N SD very soon. We're taking along with us my mother in law who is 100 yrs old! Obviously she has no income, except SSI. Are there any agencies that we could go to for additional financial aid for her?

I'll have a job that will allows us to pay for the rent and bring food to the table, but it will be tight. Any additional help for my mother in law would be welcome.

[moved]

There is no financial aid for the elderly. If she's on SSI, that will be it. There's a remote possibility that she may qualify for food stamps, but since she'll be living with you, she probably won't, because she'll have no living expenses. I have a friend on SSI that lives in a HUD subsized apartment building. She pays $252 per month for it, and it includes utilities. She gets no additional money - it's her only income. There is no such thing as additional financial aid. There are places you can go for extra food, though.

[Oerdin]

Meals on wheels is a program which helps the aged and elderly who either cannot afford the price of food or are physically unable to cook due to medical conditions. They deliver cooked food directly to people's houses though I have no idea what the requirements are to become a member. Food stamps depends greatly on her costs vs income and you can check out the county public assistance office for more information but really they've slashed welfare down to nothing back in the 90's so I doubt she'd quality for anything. Personally, I'd go in to one of the county senior citizens' centers and explain the situation to one of the councilors as they will know all the things which can be done.

[moved]

I was on food stamps for three months when I first lost my job. And the county makes getting them and keeping them a royal PIA! Every month they would make mistakes, and send me notices that they needed some sort of documentation for some reason. Each time I had to go to the HHSA office, it was a two hour minimum wait. When I finally got my unemployment, they decided that I made too much money, and cut them off.

I don't think Meal on Wheels is a free program, but you may be able to get help with food, though. I seriously doubt if she will be able to qualify for food stamps.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by moved

I was on food stamps for three months when I first lost my job. And the county makes getting them and keeping them a royal PIA! Every month they would make mistakes, and send me notices that they needed some sort of documentation for some reason. Each time I had to go to the HHSA office, it was a two hour minimum wait. When I finally got my unemployment, they decided that I made too much money, and cut them off.

I don't think Meal on Wheels is a free program, but you may be able to get help with food, though. I seriously doubt if she will be able to qualify for food stamps.

I don't think it is free either. I can't think of any program she will fall under as long as she is living with the OP. SS is supposed be used for living when we retire. Unfortunately it isn't meant to be our entire means of support, but too often is. I don't know how much this lady gets, but it should be enouth to cover the immediate living expenses if she is living with the OP.

If medicine is involved and I am sure at 100 some must be, most drug companies are now helping the needy with the cost.

NIta

[Im_wondering]

Thank you all for the input. I know have a more realistic picture. My mother in law has been living with my sister in law for many years and caring for her; however, my sister in law also needs to be care for at 66 years of age. That's why we're bringing them to live with us in SD when we move within the next 30 days.

It'll be tight finantialy, since my wife won't be able to work because she'll have to stay home and help with the care of my mother and sister in law. Here in OR my mother in law was getting rental assistance from the state of OR besides the SSI from federal government. She didn't have food stamps.

We'll survive with God's help and good budgetting.

[skeke]

Senior Gleaners is a program that might provide additonal groceries once a month. I honestly don't know how this works for the elderly poor who are residing with family. My diabled sis is not all that old (66) but she lives alone on a very modest income of public assistance combined with social security. She receives groceries monthly through a Senior Gleaners program in Northern CA. She also lives in a HUD subsidized apartment. If she lived with family or even had a roommate that would change her eligibility for programs.

[skeke]

One more thing to add. I would check with the local Area Agency on Aging to see what, if any, assistance is out there.

[moved]

Talk to their doctors about both of them needing a caregiver. Your wife will be their designated caregivers, and get paid by the county. I think it's about $10 per hour.

There's no such thing here as rental assistance. The only programs are the senior HUD subsidized apartment buildings, and Section 8, and there's close to a 10 year waiting list for it,

[moved]

Originally Posted by skeke

Senior Gleaners is a program that might provide additonal groceries once a month. I honestly don't know how this works for the elderly poor who are residing with family. My diabled sis is not all that old (66) but she lives alone on a very modest income of public assistance combined with social security. She receives groceries monthly through a Senior Gleaners program in Northern CA. She also lives in a HUD subsidized apartment. If she lived with family or even had a roommate that would change her eligibility for programs.

There are no Senior Gleaners programs in Southern California. I had a neighbor in Sacramento that worked for them. Here they have food banks.