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Archive for the 'Medicare' CategoryAlthough There Is No Known Link Between Food Coloring And ADHD, Wider Safety Issues RemainWhen University of Maryland psychologist Andrea Chronis-Tuscano testified before a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing last March, it changed her mind about possible risks of artificial food coloring for children, and drove her to look more closely at the products in her own pantry that she feeds her kids. Vaccine Offers Better Protection Against TuberculosisScientists have developed a new tuberculosis vaccine that targets proteins from both early and later stages of the disease. The new vaccine, called H56, prevents TB in infected mice more effectively than the current vaccine. These findings offer hope for a better defense against the disease, which kills nearly 2 million people every year. TB is a bacterial infection of the lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. A vaccine called Bacille Calmette Guerin, or BCG, is currently used against TB. However, BCG is not completely effective, and can’t prevent reactivation of latent TB in people who carry the bacterium but don’t have disease symptoms. Dr. Claus Aagaard and Dr. Peter Andersen at the Staten Serum Institut in Denmark, supported by an international team of collaborators, hypothesized that a vaccine targeting both the active and latent stages of TB might give better protection. They created a triple fusion protein called H56. It combines 2 proteins that the bacteria produces in the early stages of infection with another produced during later-stage infection. The study was funded by NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information see http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/january2011/01312011tuberculosis.htm President Obama signed a bill that provides a temporary extension of unemployment benefits for those who are still out of workJust last month, the President signed a bill that provides a temporary extension of unemployment benefits for those who are still out of work and have, or were about to, become ineligible for further unemployment benefits. But if you’re struggling, like the other 15.1 million Americans starting out 2011 in the unemployment line, you should know that more government help is out there. Benefits.gov and CareerOneStop.org offer a variety of programs and free, easy-to-use tools to help guide you to reemployment. CareerOneStop.org, a grant-funded government program within the U.S. Department of Labor, is a resource for anyone who is out of work, looking for training, interested in changing careers or furthering their education. The CareerOneStop Worker ReEmployment website is dedicated to assisting the unemployed with everything from answering questions about complex unemployment benefits, to suggesting other government resources for those in need of help with childcare, groceries, or any other necessities. CareerOneStop’s Job Search website is a one-stop shop for every stage of your job search. Here, you can get help preparing for your search, find state job banks and recruiting and staffing services, get tips on how to apply for jobs you’re interested in and read guidance on how to handle an offer. If the New Year means that you’re looking to start over, try CareerOneStop’s mySkills myFuture website to match your current skills with a new career! You can also find a local One-Stop Career Center by using the America’s Service Locator. Whether you are unemployed or just looking for help to make ends meet, visit Benefits.gov to use our confidential Benefit Finder for a personalized list of the Federal and state programs you may be eligible to receive from over 1,000 on the site. You can also browse our “Career Development Assistance” category page for a list of government assistance programs that may help you move one step closer to turning unemployment into reemployment. Mississippi Health Benefits, there are two health insurance options that cover childrenThrough Mississippi Health Benefits, there are two health insurance options that cover children: the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. CHIP is a free/low cost private health plan for children in families meeting family size/income requirements. This program covers eligible children to their 19th birthday. Families are urged to apply to see if their children are eligible for either the CHIP or the Medicaid program.
General Program RequirementsIn order to qualify for CHIP, a child must be a resident of Mississippi, under age 19, not covered by other insurance, a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant and have annual income that does not exceed the following: $29,140 for a household size of two, $36,620 for a household size of three, $44,100 for a household size of four, $51,580 for a household size of five, $59,060 for a household size of six, $66,540 for a household size of seven, $74,020 for a household size of eight. Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit. Application ProcessApplications for MS Health Benefits are available by mail but an in-person interview is required as part of the application process. Mail or bring the application form to the Medicaid Regional Office that serves the county where the child lives. To apply for CHIP, you can request an application by calling 1-800-421-2408 or you can download the PDF Application Form from the following site: Mail the completed application form to The Human Services Office in the county where the applicant lives: Program Contact InformationFor more information on Mississippi Health Benefits, please visit our web site http://www.medicaid.ms.gov/Eligibility.aspx
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people to buy and eat nutritious foodThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people to buy and eat nutritious food. The modern SNAP program was set up in 1971. The Federal government pays most of the costs of the SNAP program. Each state operates a SNAP program following rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Today, people access SNAP benefits by Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), a plastic swipe card that looks like a credit or debit card. If you are disabled and qualify for SNAP, you can designate another person to do food shopping with your SNAP card.The rules for getting SNAP in Connecticut require that a person must be a resident of Connecticut whose income and countable assets (including motor vehicles, savings, checking, stocks, and bonds combined) are within set limits.
General Program RequirementsIn order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Connecticut and fall into one of two groups: (1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself). For either group, you must also have an annual household income of less than $14,079 if one person lives in the household; $18,941 if two people live in the household; $23,803 if three people live in the household; $28,665 if four people live in the household; $33,527 if five people live in the household; $38,389 if six people live in the household; $43,251 if seven people live in the household; or $48,113 if eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $4,862 for each additional person in the home. Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit. Application ProcessFor detailed application information, visit: Program Contact InformationFor more information, visit: http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=411676
Or call: 1-800-842-1508
Department of Social Services Office Locations and Telephone Numbers can be found on our web site at: http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2345&q=304888&dssNav=|
Family Independence Program (FIP) provides cash assistance to families with childrenThe Family Independence Program (FIP) provides cash assistance to families with children and pregnant women to help them pay for living expenses such as rent, heat, utilities, clothing, food and personal care items. FIP applicants and recipients may be assigned to the Jobs, Employment @ Training (JET) program through the Michigan Works Agencies for assistance in finding a job or to develop needed job skills. JET is designed to establish and maintain a connection to the labor market for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. To make this connection, participants are placed into employment and occupationally relevant education and training programs.
Help with transportation, childcare and other needs related to employment and training may be provided. General Program RequirementsIn order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Michigan, either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age, a U.S. national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, have low or very low income, and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed. Only a Family Independence Specialist or Eligibility Specialist at the Department of Human Services (DHS) can accurately determine your family’s eligibility for FIP. Ask for details when turning in a completed application at your local Department of Human Services (DHS) County Office. Your Next StepsThe following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit. Application ProcessFor more information, see the Program Contact Information below. Program Contact InformationThe Department of Human Services must help all persons fill out the application, when requested, if you need help, please call or visit your local DHS County Office: http://www.michigan.gov/fia/1,1607,7-124-5461—,00.html
If you need an interpreter, you may use one of your choice or the agency will provide one. If you are refused help in filling out the application, you may call: 517-373-0707
For more information please visit this website and click on the links under “Family Independence Program”: http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,1607,7-124-5453_5526—,00.html
Work Incentives Update: Are you Receiving Benefits and Interested in Working?Work Incentives Update: Are you Receiving Benefits and Interested in Working? Do you receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance? Are you thinking about going back to work? If so, register for this online training event which will be held next Wednesday, January 26, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. (EST). This webinar will present information about the Ticket to Work program and other work incentives that allow you to keep your Social Security cash benefits and Medicare or Medicaid while you test out your ability to work. Work Incentive Seminar Events are also being held around the country. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Settlement Reached with H&R BlockThe U.S. Department of Justice has announced an agreement under the ADA with HRB Tax Group Inc., H&R Block Tax Services LLC and HRB Advance LLC (H&R Block) to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing when providing income tax preparation services and courses. The settlement agreement requires, among other things, that H&R Block provide auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreter services. Perspectives on Supporting Adolescents and Young Adults with Learning DisabilitiesPerspectives on Supporting Adolescents and Young Adults with Learning Disabilities: In the course of a 20-year longitudinal study of individuals with learning disabilities (LD), Goldberg et al. (2003) measured the relative success achieved by subjects in the following areas: employment, education, independence, family relations, social relationships….They found that individuals who were successful across these domains were able to identify specific factors that led to their success – including “self-awareness/self-acceptance of their learning disability…” Anxiety Increases Risk Of Complications For Heart Disease PatientsPatients with heart disease who also suffer from an anxiety disorder have a significantly higher risk of having a heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death, compared to other heart disease patients, according to Dutch scientists. You can read about this study in the peer-reviewed medical journal Archives of General Psychiatry… |