Benefit Specialist

Help for Older Adults What is a Benefit Specialist? Who is eligible for help from the Benefit Specialist? Who should seek help from the Benefit Specialist? The Benefit Specialist is an advocate who can... In which specific areas can an Older Adult expect assistance from the Benefit Specialist?

What is a Benefit Specialist? 
A Benefit Specialist is a person trained to help older adults who are having a problem with their private or government benefits by cutting through the "red tape" of the various federal, state and county systems.  They help older adults figure out what benefits they are entitled to and tell them what they must do to receive them.  The Ozaukee County Benefit Specialist receives on-going training in the areas of benefit and entitlement programs, as well as legal issues affecting older adults.  A SeniorLAW Attorney provides supervision and support to the Benefit Specialist.

Who is eligible for help from the Benefit Specialist?
Anyone 60 years or older who is having a problem securing a public or private benefit is eligible for help from the Ozaukee County Benefit Specialist.

Who should seek help from the Benefit Specialist?

	Persons who want to know more about their benefits.
	Persons who need help organizing the paperwork and applying for benefits.
	Persons who have been denied a benefit that they think they are entitled to receive.

The Benefit Specialist is an advocate who can:

	Explain benefit programs and qualifications.
	Suggest actions that can be taken to secure benefits or appeal negative decisions related to public benefits and insurance payments.
	Help cut the "red tape" of complicated paperwork by providing assistance and accurate information over the phone or in person.
	Advocate on the older adult's behalf with other involved parties.
	Explain what legal action or other possible solution is required and, if necessary, make a referral to an attorney or other agency.

(Representation may take the form of paper reviews and reconsiderations through the appeals process, including an in-person hearing before an administrative law judge or a hearing officer.)

In which specific areas can an older adult expect assistance from the Benefit Specialist?
Services provided include information, assistance and advocacy on a variety of topics, including such areas as:

	Health Care Financing - Medicare, Medical Assistance, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Spousal Impoverishment, PartnerCare, and billing problems with medical providers.
	Income Maintenance - Social Security/Disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Energy Assistance, and Food Stamps.
	Housing - Landlord/tenant issues, public housing, and Homestead Tax Credit.
	Consumer/Finance - Collection practices and unfair sales practices or fraud.
	Surrogate Decision Making - Advance Directive (Power of Attorney for Health Care and Living Wills), guardianship, and representative payee issues.
	Elder Rights - Disabilities issues, elder abuse and neglect, and nursing home resident rights.

The Ozaukee County Benefit Specialist Program is funded by Title III of the  Federal  Older Americans Act, the State of Wisconsin Elderly Benefit Assistance Program, Ozaukee County, and donations.
Because Ozaukee County's Benefit Specialist Program is operated under the Older Americans Act's guidelines, there are no charges for services, Donations are accepted and encouraged in order to provide additional services to clients.

No information about or obtained from an individual participant shall be disclosed in any form identifiable with the individual to any person outside the agency or program involved without the informed consent of the participant or his/her legal representative except:
a.) By court order or
b.) When securing client requested services, benefits, or rights.