BenefitsCheckUp FAQ

What is BenefitsCheckUp?

BenefitsCheckUp is an internet-based tool developed by the National Council on Aging. Using an internet-based database of federal and state benefits, a person is screened for potential eligibility for more than 1,000 federal and state benefits. It is designed and frequently updated to help older adults and their caregivers to access needed benefits.

How much does it cost me to be screened?

The screening is FREE. The screening is a service offered by the National Council on Aging, and is locally supported by a grant from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the Verizon Foundation.

What if I don't want to put my name and social security number on the questionnaire?

The screening does not ask for names or identifying numbers, such as Social Security. It determines eligibility based on zip code and income, and nowhere does it associate this information with you or your social security number. These two things are never asked and therefore, the screening is absolutely confidential.

Who should be screened?

Any adult can be screened. Generally, if your monthly income exceeds $4,500 per month or your assets (excluding your home and vehicle) are more than $100,000 per year, you will not be eligible for many of the benefits.

Do I need to be 55+ to be screened?

No. The National Council on Aging developed BenefitsCheckUp with persons over 55 in mind. However, most federal and state benefits are not age specific, but instead are based on disability and income. Therefore, an adult of any age can be screened.

What type of benefits are most frequently found for older adults?

Prescription drug benefits are most frequently found for individuals. The screening checks for benefits from 85 major drug companies and prescription programs, covering more than 850 different medications.

How long does it take to complete a screening?

Completion of the questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes once you have gathered some important information. The following general information is needed to complete the questionnaire:

• State and ZIP code
• Date of birth for self and spouse
• Type of residence (house, apartment, or mobile home)
• Length of time in current residence
• Veteran status for self and spouse
• Employment history (specifically, whether or not the person ever worked for the state, local, county, or federal government or the railroads) for self and spouse
• Names of prescription medications you are taking (we recommend that you have available the prescription bottles or information about your medications from your health professional)
• Current income and assets from all sources for self, spouse, and others in the household
• Estimates of current expenses (such as mortgage/rent, utilities, out-of-pocket medical bills, expenses for caring for someone at home while you work or go to school, etc.)

What happens once I have answered all of the questions?

Once you have answered the screening questions, a detailed report will be generated in less than a minute. This report will provide you the details of each program you may be eligible for. It will provide you with the contact information for each type of benefit, the documents required to prove eligibility, and the forms you must fill out and send or take with you to a local office.

The report can be printed for you to review with others in making a decision to apply for a certain type of benefit.

Do I still need to fill out application forms for programs I am found eligible for?

All benefit programs require you to apply for benefits for them to be received. The report generated will provide you will the closest office to apply. Additionally, the report will detail what documents you need to take with you. Finally, many benefit program applications are available on-line and can be downloaded onto your computer for you to complete and send or take with you to your appointment. This information will make it less likely that you will have to make several trips to the benefit office because you will come with all of the necessary documents and forms completed! Many prescription drug benefit programs offered by drug companies have application forms on-line for you to complete and send electronically.

What if I need help running a screen because I do not have access to a computer or feel comfortable using the computer?

More than 33 local organizations have staff trained to run BenefitsCheckUp screenings for older adults. A list of organizations is found under the BenefitsCheckUp Participating Agencies button on Your BenefitsCheckUp page of this web site. Contact the organization closest to you or a loved one to schedule an appointment. Remember to collect all of the information needed before your appointment.

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