Senior News Line: Finding help this year

Now that we have our new Social Security benefit amount and see, after the Medicare Part B deduction, just how little it’s going to be, many of us are on the edge of panic — or at least very worried.

We barely made it through last year, month by month. What are we going to do this year when the prices are continuing to rise, but our Social Security didn’t?

Last year, the average Social Security benefit was $2,015, and this year it’s slated to be $2,071, up about $56 per month. After deducting the $185 Part B last year, the average benefit was $1,830 per month.

This year, Part B has gone up to $202, making $1,869 the average benefit. Doing the math, it means that we have $39 more per month to spend.

And let’s not forget that the Part B deductible has also gone up, now at $283 per year before Medicare kicks in — we need help!

The National Council on Aging has created BenefitsCheckUp.org, which is a one-stop shop for finding help programs. There are 2,000 of them in their database, and it’s free to use.

You only need to enter your ZIP code and select the type of benefits you want to look at. Then you’ll answer a few questions and be presented with a list of options that includes contact information and tells you how to apply for the help.

If you need a little help with that database, call them at 800-794-6559, or click on their “Find Local Help” link for help in your state.

BenefitsCheckUp identifies a wide range of assistance, from free legal advice, to property tax reduction, to “Extra Help” to pay for Part D Medicare drug coverage and deductibles, to heating assistance and much more.

Don’t be afraid to apply for the help benefits you’re entitled to.