BenefitsCheckUp Helps Older Adults Find Assistance for Heating Bills

For Immediate Release

Contact:   
Connie Hofmann (chofmann@aboutscp.com)
John Beilenson (jbeilenson@aboutscp.com)
Tel: 610-687-5495

BenefitsCheckUp Helps Older Adults Find Assistance for Heating Bills

Washington, DC - October 14, 2009 - With fall underway and the start of winter just ahead, many households face an inevitable rise in home heating bills. For older adults on a fixed or limited income, this increased expense forces some to choose between warmth and other necessities, including food or medications.

Many older adults may be unaware of federal programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that offers financial assistance for home energy needs to families or individuals who qualify. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) helps seniors determine whether they are eligible for this and other benefits programs through BenefitsCheckUp®, a free online service that identifies savings on food, prescription drugs, and other healthcare needs, available at www.benefitscheckup.org.

"Older adults shouldn't have to choose between heating their homes and paying for groceries," said Stuart Spector, senior vice president at NCOA. "BenefitsCheckUp can yield significant savings for eligible seniors through various benefits programs like LIHEAP. It's a powerful and easy-to-use resource for older adults and their families."

In addition to searching BenefitsCheckUp to see you qualify for heating assistance, seniors can follow these simple tips from the U.S. Department of Energy to save energy and money:

• Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
• Turn off the power to home electronics when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take brief showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.

Seniors can screen for additional benefits they may qualify for by completing a simple online questionnaire at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans-especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged-and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities.

About BenefitsCheckUp®
Developed and maintained by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation's most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. It includes almost 2,000 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Since 2001, more than 2.3 million people have used the service, identifying benefits valued at more than $7.5 billion. 

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