Senior benefits in Clarke County, Mississippi

The East Central Planning and Development District (ECPDD) is the Area Agency on Aging for Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Smith counties, including Clarke County. Its aging services include congregate meals, emergency response, home delivered meals, homemaker services, information and referral, legal assistance, the long-term care ombudsman, outreach, respite, SHIP Medicare counseling, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), transportation, and Matter of Balance and Walk with Ease classes. ECPDD also provides case management for the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver. The mailing address is P. O. Box 499, Newton. Call (601) 683-2007.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

Multi-County Community Service Agency (Multi-County CSA) takes LIHEAP applications for Clarke County. Its Clarke County office is at 106 Church Street, Quitman. Phone: (601) 776-3461. LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps pay home energy bills, and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps in an energy emergency. A household typically qualifies with income at or below 60% of the state median income for its size and an energy bill due. Households with elderly or disabled members get priority. To apply, submit a pre-application online through the Common Web Portal on Access MS and mark "Community Services". The agency will then send you an appointment to finish the application in person; if you are elderly or disabled, expect the appointment within 30 business days. The yearly benefit can be up to $1,500.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,500 a year

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) county office for Clarke County is at 29 Harris Ave. Phone: 601-776-3756. Email: dfo.clarkecounty@mdhs.ms.gov. MDHS runs SNAP, which gives monthly food benefits on an EBT card to people with low income, including older adults and people with disabilities. If everyone in the household is 65 or older and no one earns money from work, MDHS uses a shorter form, the SNAP Simplified Application for the Elderly (ESAP, form MDHS EA 904). People who get SSI may get SNAP through the Mississippi Combined Application Project (MSCAP). Contact the county office to ask what documents to send with your application. Medicaid for older adults is handled by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, not MDHS.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Ochsner Watkins Hospital, in Quitman, is part of Ochsner Health (Ochsner Rush) and follows Ochsner Health's financial assistance policy for emergency and medical care. You may qualify for 100% financial assistance (free care) if your family income is 200% or less of the federal poverty guidelines. Above that, Ochsner may give discounts in some cases, such as very large bills, terminal illness or many hospital stays. Help applies only to your share of the bill, such as a deductible or copay. To apply, call 504-842-4190 (7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday) or complete an application on MyOchsner, and mail it with your documents to Ochsner Health, Attn: Patient Accounts Customer Service, 1514 Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, LA 70121.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year