AARP Online Community: AARPmi - My Journals & Blogs

AARP Reminds Seniors To Seek Help With Paying Energy Bills

In light of the recent very unfortunate death of a 93-year-old Bay City, MI man due to his electricity being shut off, AARP reminds seniors of the many ways they can seek help with paying their utility bills and making their homes more energy efficient.

AARP recently launched Operation Energy Save, a new initiative that calls on Michiganians to help friends, family and neighbors conserve energy by making small changes around the house that are proven to reduce energy costs. In an economy where every bit counts, these small changes could save Americans millions of dollars this winter.

Part of Create the Good, a network of volunteers active in neighborhoods across the country, Operation Energy Save features easy-to-use checklists, instructional guides and simple tips to help their neighbors save on household energy expenses. The free resource is available at www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood.

“When the weather gets cold and energy costs rise, our most vulnerable populations often must
make the choice between buying food and medicine or staying warm,” said AARP Michigan state president Eric Schneidewind. “If volunteers or community groups start by identifying just two or three friends or neighbors who might not be able to complete the checklist on their own and helping them make a few changes, we can keep vulnerable populations safe this winter and save everyone money on energy costs.”

Many Michigan seniors are facing mounting heating bills that they cannot pay due to the increased cost of energy and the bad economy. AARP strongly encourages seniors to check with their utility provider to see if they offer a Winter Protection Plan.

These plans protect senior and low-income customers of Commission-regulated natural gas and electric companies, rural electric cooperatives and alternative suppliers from electric or natural gas service shut-off and high utility payments between December 1 and March 31 each year. Persons qualify for the plan if they meet any of the following criteria:

¨ Are age 65 or older; or

¨ Receive Michigan Department of Human Services cash assistance; or

¨ Receive Food Stamp or Medicaid; or

¨ Have a household income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.

-MORE-

Page 2 of 2 . . . Operation Energy Save

Winter Protection Plans allow eligible low-income customers to make monthly payments of at least 7 percent of their estimated annual bill, along with a portion of any past-due amount, December through March, and avoid shut-off during that time even if their bills are higher. Eligible senior citizens participating in Winter Protection Plans are not required to make specific monthly payments between December 1 and March 31, but are encouraged to do so to avoid higher bills when the protection period ends. At the end of the protection period, both low-income and senior citizens taking part in the plan must pay off any money owed in installments between April and November. To apply for this program, contact your natural gas or electric utility company or alternative electric supplier.

AARP also wants to remind seniors about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is federal money given to each state to assist low-income families with energy costs.

LIHEAP is currently substantially underfunded and unable to meet the energy needs of the program’s eligible households. AARP has been working for many years on the federal level to get the funding for LIHEAP increased, and has asked Congress, as part of the proposed economic stimulus package, to provide an additional $1 billion over the funding for last year, as well as $6.2 billion in weatherization funding. Without increased LIHEAP assistance, many older Americans will be forced this winter to choose between paying their heating bill and paying for other necessities such as food or medicine.

In Michigan, the LIHEAP money is used for three programs: Home Heating Credit, State Emergency Relief (SER) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

The Home Heating Credit is available to all low-income households. Application forms for the Home Heating Credit are available from the Michigan Department of Treasury, local Department of Human Services offices and anywhere Michigan tax return forms are available.

The State Emergency Relief (SER) program is a crisis intervention program and provides services such as payment for heating fuel, electricity and home repairs. Eligibility is based upon: demonstration of immediate need (shut-off notice); declared need for a deliverable fuel; verified need for energy-related home repair; income or assets. The SER is administered by the Michigan Department of Human Services. An application is needed to request assistance and an appointment is generally required. To apply, contact the local Department of Human Services office in the county in which you reside.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a federally funded, low-income residential energy conservation program. The program provides free home energy conservation services to low-income Michigan homeowners and renters. These services reduce energy use and lower utility bills, thus creating more self-sufficient households.

For more information about LIHEAP, call the toll-free Michigan Department of Human Services Energy Hotline at 1-800-292-5650 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance with paying your heating bills can also be obtained by calling 2-1-1. Information to help seniors make ends meet during these difficult economic times, including information on heating assistance, can be found on AARP’s Web site at www.aarp.org/realrelief.

Added: January 29, 2009
Views: 202 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Hails New Law Regarding Retirement Acct. Distributions

In an effort to help give older Americans some much-needed financial flexibility as they struggle to manage their finances during this difficult economic time, AARP worked with Congress and the Administration to issue a temporary freeze on mandatory retirement account withdrawals.

The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 – which was signed into law by President Bush on December 23, 2008 – suspends the requirement for 2009 for taxpayers age 70 ½ and older to make annual minimum distributions from their retirement plan accounts.

This change provides older Americans some much-needed financial flexibility as they struggle to manage their finances during this difficult economic time.

AARP applauds the quick action taken by Congress and the Administration to pass the Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act so that older Americans can begin the new year knowing that at least one important financial hurdle has been lifted, and they can begin in 2009 to rebuild a stronger economic foundation.

AARP looks forward to working with the new Congress and new Administration in 2009 to ensure the long-term financial security of older Americans.

Added: January 13, 2009
Views: 154 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Divided We Fail Launches Next Phase of Initiative

Leaders of AARP Michigan recently launched the next phase of Divided We Fail, a national movement to bring health and financial security to every American. Joining with the Business Roundtable, the National Federation of Independent Business and SEIU, AARP hosted more than 50 events in nearly every state to educate and engage the public about issues of health reform and economic security. In Michigan, advocacy volunteers visited Congressional staffers in all 15 districts and supplied them with information packets on Divided We Fail. Divided We Fail also presented to lawmakers in Washington DC more than 1.6 million pledges signed by supporters from across the country.

“The work we have done through Divided We Fail over the last two years has built an important platform for the real work that begins today,” said AARP state president Eric Schneidewind. “Our hope is that Divided We Fail will be the catalyst for real health and economic reform. The president-elect and new Congress have already hit the ground running, and the groups involved in Divided We Fail are here to help with the support of 53 million consumers, workers and entrepreneurs.”

The Divided We Fail launch will continue over the first Congressional recess where AARP will host town hall meetings to help constituents connect with their lawmakers and discuss how the health care and economic crises are affecting them.

For more information about Divided We Fail, visit www.dividedwefail.org today.

Added: January 13, 2009
Views: 217 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Sets Legislative Priorities for 2009

At a recent event where he outlined the organization’s annual legislative and advocacy priorities, AARP CEO Bill Novelli pledged to work with Congress and the Administration to address our nation’s most serious challenges. In outlining the AARP agenda for the 111^th Congress, Novelli stressed the urgent need to provide economic relief for America and to fix our health care system. Novelli also identified key areas that will ensure that older workers have the skills they need to compete for 21^st Century jobs, help put all Americans on the path to retirement security and strengthen communities across the nation by addressing the housing crisis.

“People are losing their jobs, their homes, their health care and their pensions and retirement security that they have worked a lifetime to attain,” said Novelli. “People have lost confidence and they need help. As we work our way out of this mess, two things are clear: First, the decisions that Congress and the Obama administration make over these next few months will have an impact for decades to come. Second, there are opportunities in all this.”

AARP also recently released the findings of a new economic survey. The survey found that Americans remain concerned about their ability to pay health care bills, and many expect to delay retirement and work longer due to investment losses, and that elected officials in Washington should take a prominent role in addressing these important issues. Among adults 45+, 64% said the economy is in very bad shape. And in a new finding, 1/3 of respondents said that they are concerned about being able to afford their mortgage or rent payments. In addition, 55% of those surveyed said that they are concerned about being able to pay their health care bills over the next 12 months. And more than 3 in 10 (32%) employed respondents said that they have stopped putting money into their retirement accounts in the past 12 months, a sharp increase from the number (20%) AARP reported in October 2008.

According to the survey:

· 83% say the government should help people who have lost their jobs keep their health insurance or purchase affordable health insurance.

· Nearly 7 in 10 said that the government should help people who are facing foreclosure so that they can stay in their homes.

· Of those adults ages 45+ who lost money in their investments over the past year and are currently working or looking for work, more than half (57%) expect to delay retirement and work longer as a result of their investment losses.

· One in four (25%) retirees who are not currently working or looking for work say that, within the past 12 months, they have either looked for a job because they needed more income but been unable to find one (8%) or thought about returning to work because they needed more income (17%)

In discussing the findings of the new report, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond noted, “The economy’s effect on people who are in the workforce, near-retirees and retirees is drastic; the time for solutions is now. Whether working or retired, people need relief from the current economic crisis, from jobs to housing to the skyrocketing cost of health care. It’s critical that we realize, too, that this is not an ‘older American’ issue or a problem for Generations X or Y; this is a nationwide crisis and AARP’s advocacy agenda reflects the need to solve these problems for all generations.”

Following are a few of the key initiatives that AARP is working toward in the 111^th Congress:

· Reducing Health Care Costs & Improving Quality: Advance health information technology, evidence-based practices, chronic care coordination, and disease management and prevention; and provide greater consumer access to information on health care quality and costs.

· Expanding Health Care Coverage: Extend quality, affordable, health care coverage through Medicaid, private insurance reform, new incentives to expand coverage to the 50-64 age group and expansion of children’s coverage through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

· Training for 21^st Century Jobs: Provide training and job search resources so that workers age 50+ who are losing their jobs can re-enter the workforce.

· Making Saving Simple: Promote a universal payroll deduction mechanism that allows employees to automatically contribute a portion of their wages to retirement savings accounts, such as through automatic IRAs.

· Helping Homeowners: Enact legislation that would allow bankruptcy judges the discretion to modify primary mortgage debt so more Americans facing foreclosure can stay in their homes.

“This is an exciting time,” added Novelli. “Despite obvious challenges, we are faced with a rare opportunity to lead in putting America back on track—we have a crisis that demands it, a new administration and Congress with a mandate for change, and a public ready for change. This is not the time for business as usual. It is the time to demonstrate bold leadership—to take our agenda to the people and our nation’s leaders, to demand change and to work hard to bring about that change. And that’s exactly what we intend to do.”

Added: January 9, 2009
Views: 227 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Helps Stop Passage of Individual Market Reform Bills

Access to affordable health care coverage is increasingly difficult to find, especially for AARP’s 50- to 64-year-old members who are among the fastest-growing groups of uninsured. Even those with Medicare are struggling to keep up with rapidly rising premiums and out-of-pocket expenses that threaten their health and financial security.

That is why when the Michigan House of Representatives, in early 2008, rushed through a set of bills that would have had a catastrophic impact on Michigan’s senior population, AARP was quick to act.

The bills, originally passed by the House, would have ended the existing “community rating” system under which everyone pays the same premiums for coverage, allowing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and some HMOs to charge higher premiums based upon health status, age and geography. AARP favors a pure community rating with a single premium for everyone rather than the age and medical condition discrimination these bills would have allowed. The passage of these bills would have priced older and sicker Michigan residents out of the insurance market.

This legislation would also have required other commercial insurers to bear a large portion of the losses on individuals in a high risk pool operated exclusively by BCBSM. As the “insurer of last resort,” by law, BCBSM should bear these losses in exchange for their nonprofit status and as a matter of course for their social mission.

Further, these bills also would have removed the Attorney General’s authority to intervene with the Insurance Commissioner in Blue Cross rate cases. The last Attorney General intervention in early 2007 reduced a BCBSM rate increase request from 50 percent to 19 percent, saving older and disabled Michigan residents approximately $97.5 million in the first year and about $70 million thereafter.

Finally, the package would have allowed BCBSM to deny coverage for pre-existing illnesses for up to 12 months. Current law allows them to delay coverage for six months.

AARP, as well as a host of other groups including the United Auto Workers Union and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, registered its opposition to the bills during numerous legislative committee and sub-committee meetings over the course of the past year.

“AARP firmly believes that any attempt to reform the Individual Health Care Market should have safeguards in place to ensure that those who are in need of access to adequate health care coverage are not priced out of the option,” Eric Schneidewind, AARP Michigan State President, said. “Additionally, mechanisms that ensure oversight and transparency are paramount. Blue Cross has historically been the state’s insurer of last resort and we all benefit if they remain as such.”

In a final last-ditch effort, the Michigan legislature, during its lame duck session in December 2008, attempted to quickly pass this anti-consumer, anti-business legislation. Schneidewind, along with 35 AARP members and volunteers staked out legislators at the state capitol throughout the course of the lame duck session to ensure the bills did not pass. Additionally, AARP members were called to action via robo calls in three key State Senate districts which resulted in 2,885 phone contacts over a three-day period to those specific offices.

The work of AARP’s volunteers truly paid off, as the bills were not passed during the lame duck session. However, our work is not done, as new bills will surely be introduced on this same topic in 2009. AARP would like to thank all of its Michigan members who took the time to contact their legislators about this very important topic. We will be looking to you again in 2009 to help us fend off similar legislation. Watch for updates on this topic in upcoming issues of the AARP Bulletin and on the AARP Michigan Web site at www.aarp.org/mi.

Added: January 9, 2009
Views: 146 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Launches New Initiative to Help Reduce Energy Costs

AARP recently announced the launch of Operation Energy Save, a new initiative that calls on Michiganians to help friends, family and neighbors conserve energy by making small changes around the house that are proven to reduce energy costs. In an economy where every bit counts, these small changes could save Americans millions of dollars this winter.

Part of Create the Good, a network of volunteers active in neighborhoods across the country, Operation Energy Save features easy-to-use checklists, instructional guides and simple tips to help their neighbors save on household energy expenses. The free resource is available at www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood.

“When the weather gets cold and energy costs rise, our most vulnerable populations often must
make the choice between buying food and medicine or staying warm,” said AARP Michigan state president Eric Schneidewind. “If volunteers or community groups start by identifying just two or three friends or neighbors who might not be able to complete the checklist on their own and helping them make a few changes, we can keep vulnerable populations safe this winter and save everyone money on energy costs.”

Checklist items are quick, simple changes that include:

Lowering thermostats in the winter by 10 percent (like from 74° to 67°) for 8 hours, which can shave 10 percent off the household heating bill.
Closing the heat vents and the doors in rooms that aren’t being used.
Turning off kitchen and bathroom ventilating fans when not in use. If left on for an hour, they can **** all the heat out of the house.
Making sure furniture is not blocking a heat register and moving furniture away from cold exterior walls and windows.

Information on where to volunteer or to get local community groups involved can be found at www.AARP.org/CreateTheGood.

Added: December 8, 2008
Views: 229 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

AARP Urges MI to Adopt Law to Prevent Power of Attorney Abuse

Michigan state laws lack protections for individuals creating financial powers of attorney, according to a report released today by AARP’s Public Policy Institute. Presented at the 8^th Annual National Aging and Law Conference, the report urges state legislatures to adopt the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA), a model law that lays the groundwork for keeping seniors safe from abuse, while allowing them to plan for the future.

A power of attorney is a legal document used by an individual to empower someone else to act on their behalf, and often is aimed at allowing the appointed agent to act when an older person no longer can.

“As Michiganians age, the power of attorney will be used more often to appoint trusted family members or others to handle financial decision-making – but it also can be a ‘license to steal’ because it grants broad powers with little oversight,” said Eric Schneidewind, AARP Michigan state president. “Our existing laws must be improved to ensure Michiganians are protected financially and legally as they age.”

The report, “Power of Attorney Abuse: What States Can Do About It,” compiled by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, under contract to AARP, comes as legislatures in 12 states, including Michigan, consider adopting the law in 2009. It includes individual comparisons of current state laws with the UPOAA and advocacy tips to assist advocates and policymakers to adopt the UPOAA or similar law reform measures.

Following a 2002 national survey that found a need to improve state laws to better protect incapacitated individuals and improve acceptance of power of attorney by third parties, in 2006 the Uniform Law Commissioners drafted the UPOAA. The three-year effort included involvement of and input from bankers, the American Bar Association (ABA) and consumer groups such as AARP.

“Though in many cases, POAs enhance autonomy of seniors, they also give a great deal of authority to their agents – those trusted to execute the POA responsibly,” said Joseph O'Connor, chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging. “There is very little regular oversight and no clear standards for agents. The UPOAA sets a benchmark against which states can enact laws to protect the financial security of older Americans.”

Though two states – New Mexico and Idaho – have adopted the full UPOAA, the report shows only a small number of states have provisions that are identical, equivalent or substantially similar to UPOAA:

Only four states have adequate provisions regarding an agent’s mandatory duties
Only eight states have adequate provisions requiring specific grant of “hot powers” – those with high propensity for dissipating property or altering estate plans
Only four states have adequate provisions on agent liability

In addition to Michigan, in 2009, legislatures in Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin will consider adopting the law.

Added: December 8, 2008
Views: 258 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

Find Out Which Michigan Organizations Support Divided We Fail

The following organizations support the Divided We Fail initiative in Michigan:

ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services)

Adrian Dominican Sisters

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Burton

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Flint

Area Agencies on Aging Assoc of MI

Area Agency on Aging 1-B

Area Agency on Aging IIIA

Area Agency on Aging of Western MI

Campbell Chiropractic, Battle Creek

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (Midwest)

Cheboygan County United Way

Church Women United (CWU)/Greater Shiloh Church, Detroit

Detroit Black Nurses Association, Inc.

Detroit Medical Society

Detroit Unity Temple

Detroit Wayne County Health Authority

Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit

EZEKIEL Project of Saginaw

Face to Face International Outreach Ministries, Inkster

Flint Area Congregations Together (FACT)

Forks Senior Center, Albion

Friendship Baptist Church, Detroit

Gamaliel of Michigan

General Motors Corporation

Genesee County COGIC Alliance

Genesee County Medical Society

Gethsemane Baptist Church, Westland

Grand Traverse-Leelenau-Benzie County Medical Society

Greater Holy Temple Ministries COGIC, Flint

Health Care Association of Michigan

Healthy Kent 2010

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Detroit

Ingham County Medical Society

Interfaith Health and Hope Coalition

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 547

J.O.N.A.H

Kalamazoo Academy of Medicine

Kalamazoo County Advocates for Senior Issues

Kalamazoo County Older Adult Services Advisory Council

Kent County Medical Society

Kent County Mental Health Parity Coalition

Kent County Osteopathic Association

Lambda Chi Chapter – Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc, Detroit

Lenawee United Way

Life Applications Ministries, Warren

Metropolitan Church of God, Detroit

MI ACORN

MI AFSCME Council # 25

MI Assisted Living Association

MI Association of Health Plans

MI Association of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Physicians (MAPPP)

MI Association of United Ways

MI Citizen Action

MI College of Emergency Physicians

MI Community Action Agency Association

MI Disability Rights Coalition

MI Equality

MI Infectious Disease Society

MI League for Human Services

MI Legal Services

MI Long Term Care Supports & Services Advisory Commission

MI National Organization for Women (NOW)

MI Nurses Association (MNA)

MI Osteopathic Association

MI Sleep Disorders Association

MI Society of Anesthesiologists

MI State Conference NAACP

MI State Medical Society

MichUHCAN

Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Saginaw

Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, Saginaw

Muskegon County Medical Society

NAACP Detroit Branch

National American Arab Nurses Association(NAANA)

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

National Federation of Independent Business

New Greater Faith Ministries, Flint

New Life Tabernacle Church, Flint

Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Development

Payne Pulliam School, Detroit

PHI Michigan

Pleasant Grove Baptist, Detroit

Plymouth United Church of Christ, Detroit

Pride at Work (PAW) – MI

Region IV Area Agency Advisory Council

Saginaw County Medical Society

Second Chance Church of Saginaw

SEIU Healthcare MI

SEIU Local 517M

Senior Advocates of Washtenaw (S.A.W)

Senior Resources of West MI

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

T. R. Harris CDC/Resource Center, Flint

Triangle Foundation

Tri-County Aging Consortium Advisory Council

UNITE HERE MI State Council

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 951 & 876

United Way for Southeastern MI

United Way of Greater Battle Creek

United Way of Jackson County

United Way of Monroe County

Volunteer Center of Battle Creek

Western District Police Community Relations, Detroit

Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Saginaw

Elected Officials & Presidential Candidates

Presidential Candidates

U.S. Senator John McCain

U.S. Senator Barack Obama

U.S. House

Dave Camp

Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

John Conyers

John Dingell

Vernon Ehlers

Dale Kildee

Joe Knollenberg

Sander Levin

Candice Miller

Mike Rogers

Bart Stupak

Fred Upton

Tim Walberg

U.S. Senate

Carl Levin

Debbie Stabenow

State House

Richard Ball

Darwin Booher

Terry Brown

Bill Caul

Brenda Clack

Ed Clemente

Andy Coulouris

Rev Robert Dean

Lee Gonzales

Richard Hammel

Ted Hammon

Morris Hood, III

Hoon-Yung Hopgood

Bert Johnson

Marty Knollenberg

James Marleau

Jeff Mayes

Andy Meisner

Mike Sak

Tonya Schuitmaker

Rick Shaffer

Steve Tobocman

Aldo Vagnozzi

Mary Valentine

State House – House Resolution 307

State Senate

Glen Anderson

Jim Barcia

Raymond Basham

Liz Brater

Hansen Clarke

John Gleason

Mark Schauer

Local Resolutions

Albion City Council

Ann Arbor City Council

Battle Creek City Commission

Benton Harbor City Council

Berrien County Commission

Calhoun County Commission

Detroit City Council

Flint City Council

Genesee County Commission

Jackson City Council

Kalamazoo City Commission

Muskegon City Council

Muskegon County Commission

Oakland County Commission

Saginaw City Council

Saginaw County Commission

Wayne County Commission

Added: September 24, 2008
Views: 268 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

My Journals (88)