Senior benefits in Clay County, Mississippi

The Golden Triangle Planning and Development District (GTPDD) in Starkville is the Area Agency on Aging for Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster and Winston counties, including Clay County. Its toll-free line gives older adults information and referral on health care, money problems, legal services, group meals at meal sites, home-delivered meals, personal care, long-term care ombudsman help and case management. Call toll-free 1-888-324-9000, or call the GTPDD Department of Aging at (662) 324-7860 and choose option 2.

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

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home energy bills and energy crisis costs. In Clay County, LIHEAP is handled by Prairie Opportunity, Inc., the Community Action Agency (CAA) that serves Choctaw, Clay, Leake, Lowndes, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster and Winston counties. Its West Point office is at 122 Jackson St., West Point; call 662-494-4862. To apply, submit a pre-application on Access MS and mark "Community Services"; the CAA then mails or emails an appointment notice, and the full application is finished in person. A household typically qualifies with income at or below 60% of the state median income and an energy bill due. Households with elderly or disabled members get priority and should get an appointment within 30 business days. If approved, the CAA pays the energy company directly. Funding is limited.

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

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) county office for Clay County is at 266 Washington St, West Point, MS 39773. Call 662-494-3843. County offices help with SNAP food benefits and can explain what documents to send with an application. Older adults can use the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), a simpler way to apply for SNAP, when everyone in the household is 65 or over and no one has earnings from work; the application is form MDHS EA 904. People who get SSI can apply for SNAP through the Mississippi Combined Application Project (MSCAP) at the Social Security office or the local county MDHS office. ESAP and MSCAP participants can call 800-948-4060 for help with a SNAP case.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

NMMC-West Point in West Point is a North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS) hospital. NMHS hospitals offer financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured patients for emergency or medically necessary care. Eligibility depends on income compared with the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and discounts range from 5% to 100% on a sliding scale based on family size and income. Insured patients with a large out-of-pocket bill for one visit may also qualify. A patient who qualifies will not be charged more than amounts generally billed to insured patients. Get a Financial Assistance Application from the hospital's Admissions, Emergency or Business Office, download it from the NMHS website, or call 662-377-3219. Return it with proof of income to the Business Office of the hospital where care was received within 240 days of the first bill. A decision letter is sent within 30 days.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year