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Easing tough decisions
Last year an 88 year old woman from Detroit took in a cat left behind by a neighbor who had passed away. It soon became apparent that she was unable to afford food for both herself and the cat. She called ELM, looking for help. She explained to our staff that as a human she had the capacity to understand why she had to be hungry, but the cat could not. Her choice was to feed the cat. ELM staff in the Benefits Enrollment and Options Center helped her apply for the Medicare Savings Program, the Low Income Subsidy, and food assistance. It is our hope that very, very soon, both she and the cat will be eating regular, healthy meals with the extra $211 per month (estimated) she will receive.
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Program Totals
The Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors assisted 6,017 clients with 7,121 cases.
The Consumer Fraud Prevention Project dialed 173,590 phone numbers, spreading consumer protection information.
The Elder Abuse Prevention Program trained 115 law enforcement officers to recognize and respond to elder abuse.
MiCAFE served 3,668 people and generated $1.9 million in food assistance for older adults in Michigan.
BEOC assisted 1,500 clients and identified $16 million in potential benefits.
The Pension Rights Project closed 433 cases and recovered approximately $3.3 million in pension benefits.
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Tax Tips from the Legal Hotline
by Kay Lewis, Legal Hotline Attorney
The beginning of the new year brings with it some time to look back on what has happened during the past year. The Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors answers questions relating to various taxes at no charge to Michigan residents age 60 and over. As we all know, taxes impact our lives in many ways and raise many issues and questions.
Click here for the full article.
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