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Sharing Resources with Residents/Members

By admin on September 25, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Sharing Resources

Service Coordinators should share updated printed versions of your AASC Online Resource Directories and extra brochures with your FCRC chairs during your monthly meetings. Please ask your FCRC chairs to insert the Resource Directories into the FCRC binders (which they keep in a public place so that members can access the information when you aren’t available). If you have any for-profit resources listed in your AASC Online Resource Directories, please make sure you have at least 3 resources of any specific kind (ie chore providers) prior to sharing with your members so that you don’t accidentally give the impression you are endorsing any entity. All SCs, PVM and CSI inclusive, should post your resource directories on a publicly accessible bulletin board so that residents/members can access them when you are not in the office.

Thanks.

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Election Information

By admin on September 25, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Please Note: CSI SCs cannot host election related forums, events, speakers, candidates, ballot measure topics, or the like for your educational workshops. CSI SCs can help individual clients apply for an absentee ballot, register to vote, or obtain a state ID card.

Election Days in Michigan

Polls open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Election Date

Nov. 6, 2012 State General Election

Registration Deadlines

Oct. 9, 2012 Last day to register for November general election.

By 2:00 p.m., Aug. 4 Electors who wish to receive an absent voter ballot for the August primary by mail submit absent voter ballot applications

Up to 4:00 p.m., Aug. 6 Electors qualified to obtain an absent voter ballot for August primary may vote in person in clerk’s office.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Aug. 7 Emergency absentee voting for August primary.

By 2:00 p.m., Nov. 3 Electors who wish to receive an absent voter ballot for the November general election by mail submit absent voter ballot applications.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Nov. 5 Electors qualified to obtain an absent voter ballot for November general election may vote in person in clerk’s office.

Up to 4:00 p.m., Nov. 6 Emergency absentee voting for November general election.

OFFICES TO BE ELECTED IN 2012

President/Vice President

U.S. Senator (1 seat)

U.S. Representative in Congress (all 14 districts)

State Representative (all 110 districts)

State Board of Education (2 seats)

University of Michigan Regents (2 seats)

Michigan State University Trustees (2 seats)

Wayne State University Governors (2 seats)

Justice of the Supreme Court

Judge of the Court of Appeals

Judge of the Circuit Court

Judge of the District Court

Judge of Probate

County Offices

Specified City Offices

Township Offices

Specified Village Offices

Specified School District Positions

Absentee voting process

To protect and enhance the integrity of Michigan’s absentee voting process, all election officials are required to observe the legal requirements, practices and policies detailed below.

Eligibility: A registered voter is eligible to obtain an absentee ballot for an upcoming election if he or she: 1) is 60 years of age or more 2) is unable to vote without assistance 3) expects to be absent from his or her city or township of residence for the entire time the polls are open 4) is in jail awaiting arraignment or trial 5) has been appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of his or her precinct of residence or 6) is unable to attend the polls due to his or her religious beliefs.

Eligibility restriction: A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older.

Application process: A voter who wishes to receive an absentee ballot must request it in writing from the clerk; absentee ballots may not be delivered as a result of an oral request made in person or over the phone. However, an absentee ballot application form may be provided as a result of an oral request.

The written request may be on a form supplied by the clerk or other election official, in a letter or on a postcard. The written request must include a statutory reason why the voter is eligible to receive an absentee ballot and the applicant’s signature.

Forms: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/AV_Process_264249_7.pdf

A Guide to Voter Identification at the Polls

Due to a recent court ruling, every Michigan voter must present picture identification at the polls,

or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of picture identification.

Prepare for Election Day

Remember to bring an acceptable form of photo identification to the polls on Election Day. If you don’t have photo ID you can still vote (see Voting Without Photo ID below).

Your photo ID does not need to have your address on it. In addition, the name on your identification card may be a shorter form of your name. For example, “Bill” for “William” and “Kathy” for “Katherine” are acceptable.

After showing your photo ID to the poll worker and signing the application, you may cast your ballot.

Voting Without Photo ID

If you do not have photo ID, you can still cast a ballot simply by signing an affidavit. The affidavit can be used by:

Voters who do not have acceptable photo ID
Voters who have photo ID but didn’t bring it to the polls

Once you sign the affidavit, you may cast your ballot. It will be counted with all other ballots on Election Day.

Getting a State ID Card

If you do not have a driver’s license or other acceptable photo identification, you can get a state identification card at your local Secretary of State branch office for $10.

State ID cards are free to individuals who are 65 or older or who are blind. Cards are also free to those who have had driving privileges terminated due to a physical or mental disability.

Proof of identity and residency are required when applying for a state ID card. The fee can also be waived for individuals who present other good cause for a fee waiver. Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos for details on what forms are acceptable in order to prove identity and residency, or call (888) SOS-MICH (767-6424).

Michigan Voter Information Center

Welcome to the Michigan Voter Information Center! This Web site provides you with a vast assortment of information related to voter registration and election administration in Michigan.

To view your own voter information, you’ll have to log in. Once you log in, you can:

Determine if you are registered to vote
Find your polling location
Contact your local election official
Learn to use your voting equipment
Find answers to frequently asked questions
View your sample ballot

Please remember that if you don’t think that you will be in town on election day, you can request and obtain an absentee ballot; if you are a registered voter of any age.

Please register to vote and , if you are registered, below, you will find a quick and easy way to confirm that you are still registered to vote

What You Need to Know About Absentee Voting

Absentee voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on election day.

As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are:

age 60 years old or older
unable to vote without assistance at the polls
expecting to be out of town on election day
in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.

A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older. (Voting in person on one governmental level clears the restriction on the other levels. For example, if a voter subject to the restriction votes in person at a school election, the voter would be free to obtain an absentee ballot for the first state election in which he or she wishes to participate.)

Requesting an Absentee Voter Ballot

Your request for an absentee voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to your city or township clerk. (For assistance in obtaining the address of your city or township clerk, see http://www.Michigan.gov/vote) Your request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and your signature. You must request an absentee voter ballot by mailing the application, a letter, a postcard, or a pre-printed application form obtained from your local clerk’s office. Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.

Once your request is received by the local clerk, your signature on the request will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is issued. You must be a registered voter to receive an absentee ballot. Requests for absentee voter ballots are processed immediately. Absentee voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city or township of residence.

After receiving your absentee voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on election day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absentee voter ballot to your clerk’s office.

If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on election day, you may request an emergency absentee voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absentee voter ballots has passed but before 4 p.m. on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absentee voter ballot. Your local clerk will have more information about emergency absentee voter ballots.

Voting is one of the most cherished and fundamental rights in our country. If you are eligible to obtain an absentee voter ballot and cannot attend the polls on election day, use of the absentee voter ballot is strongly encouraged.

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Safeguarding Social Security Checks as They Go Electronic – NYT

By admin on September 25, 2012 in Reference Information, Social Security

From New York Times:

by Ann Carrns, 9/24/12

Consumer groups — along with paper-producing interests – -are urging the federal government to improve safeguards for Social Security recipients, as the government phases out paper checks for beneficiaries in favor of electronic deposits.

Beginning in March, all Social Security checks will be deposited electronically unless recipients apply for and receive a waiver to keep getting payments via paper checks.

Recipients must receive the payments by direct deposit to a bank account, or to a debit card, including the government’s DirectExpress card. The debit cards allow beneficiaries to make retail purchases with the card or withdraw the funds from automatic teller machines. If current recipients don’t choose a deposit option by March 1, they’ll automatically be sent a DirectExpress card to avoid any delay in receipt of benefits, the Social Security Administration says.

The move is part of an continuing effort by the federal government to reduce paper and cut costs by going electronic for all sorts of things, including savings bonds, unemployment benefits and Social Security benefit statements. Already, 94 percent of beneficiaries receive payments electronically, according to the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.

But in testimony before a congressional committee this month, consumer advocates urged the government to make sure that safeguards are in place to prevent fraud, like re-directing recipients’ electronic payments, and that the waiver process for recipients who do not want electronic deposits is clear and straightforward.

Beneficiaries aged 92 and older are exempt from the electronic deposit requirement, and others who still want to get paper checks can apply for a waiver. But according to testimony from the National Consumer Law Center, the waiver process is so difficult that few waivers actually have been granted. The group urges the government to liberalize the waiver process, so people who are more comfortable getting paper checks may continue to do so.

While the vast majority of recipients already have voluntarily switched to electronic deposit, “the
population that has resisted doing so to date generally has a good reason,” according to testimony from Margot Freeman Saunders, a lawyer with the consumer law center. They include people who don’t have a bank account; those who don’t understand or feel comfortable with direct deposit; and people who already have workable and affordable methods of receiving their benefits.

Of the over 72,000 calls received by Treasury between May 1, 2011 and July 30, 2012 regarding a waiver, only about 14,000 were even sent a waiver packet with instructions, she said. Then, only 281 notarized responses were received back by Treasury. Those numbers, Ms. Freeman Saunders said, are a “clear illustration” that the need for the waiver far exceeds the number of people actually obtaining one.

Fraud is another concern. The Inspector General of the Social Security Administration said in testimony to Congress this month that it has received more than 19,000 reports about questionable or unauthorized changes to recipients’ direct-deposit information, apparently as part of efforts to illegally re-direct monthly payments. “These reports have involved either an unauthorized change to direct deposit information, or a suspected attempt to make such a change,” according to testimony by Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., the inspector general for the SSA.

The Inspector General has recommended Social Security make changes to prevent fraudulent redirection of deposits, like developing an automatic notification system to alert recipients of any changes to their deposit information.

On a less dramatic level, consumer groups caution that debit cards may pose challenges for some senior citizens, who may not be used to using PINs and many not know how to properly safeguard them. The cards also carry fees that seniors may be unaccustomed to paying. Fees under DirectExpress are relatively limited; the card offers one free A.T.M. withdrawal after the funds are deposited, and subsequent withdrawals carry a 90-cent fee. Fees also apply for receiving a monthly paper statement (75 cents) and for transferring funds to a personal bank account ($1.50).

A new advocacy group, Consumers for Paper Options, argues that the move will present a hardship for many elderly check recipients. The group has asked the government to retain paper checks as the default option, with electronic delivery available if requested by recipients.

“We think people ought to have a choice for important financial information,” said John Runyan, executive director of Consumers for Paper Options. He said the non-profit is primarily backed by “paper-based communication interests,” like the Envelope Manufacturers Association, the American Forest Paper Association and various paper companies.

Do you or your relatives receive a paper Social Security check? Are you concerned about the move to electronic payments?

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Hamtramck United Social Services Community Resource Guide

By admin on September 20, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

The attached Hamtramck United Social Services Community Resource Guide and Resource Index includes agencies in and around Hamtramck and places a special emphasis on resources for immigrants. I highly recommend it for co-ops with large international memberships.

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AAA1B Newsletter

By admin on September 20, 2012 in General Aging Information, Reference Information

The September 2012 Network Insider from the Area Agency on Aging 1-B includes info on:

Medicare Part D Assistance Days
Fall Prevention
Celebrate Senior Center Month

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Medicaid Spend down aka Medicaid deductible

By Adrienne on September 17, 2012 in Conference call notes, Reference Information

Medicaid Spend down also referred to as Medicaid deductibles are not bills that have been paid by the beneficiary. However, they are bills that have been received from any medical appointment and it includes prescription drug costs. Copies of these bills must be submitted to the DHS Specialist monthly. When the bills are received by the DHS Specialist, they keep a talley and their system will generate a report letting them know what beneficiaries have/have not met the Spend down/Deductible. If the deductible is not met for 3 consecutive months, the beneficiary will receive a letter informing them that their Medicaid benefits have been suspended. If this happens, they must reapply. The Spend down/Deductible amounts are set by the DHS system and it is based on the information entered on behalf of the beneficiary. The DHS Specialist DOES NOT PERSONALLY SET THE AMOUNT!

A. Smith, Dearborn Heights Co-op

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Corporation for National and Community Service RSVP Programs

By admin on September 17, 2012 in General Aging Information, Reference Information

The Corporation for National and Community Service is currently seeking applications in the 2013 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) competition. RSVP grants provide support to community service programs that utilize volunteers 55 years of age and older in meeting local and community needs through service. Focus areas for the grants include education, healthy futures, veterans and military families, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and disaster services.

The application deadline is October 11, 2012. For more information on this opportunity, visit: http://1.usa.gov/QG418F.

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Posting your AASC Online Agency List

By admin on September 16, 2012 in AASC Online Forum, Company News, Hannan News

AASC Online tip of the day!:

You have the resources your residents/members need at your fingertips. In the upper right-hand corner of your AASC Online Resource Director is the option to Print Agency List. Do it! Then post it on your bulletin board and share it with your residents/members. CSI SCs should bring their FCRC Chairs updates of the Agency list at their monthly meetings for the FCRC Chair to put in their resource binder…..and let your auditor know that you have done this and where the FCRC binder is located. The idea is knowledge is power! Some residents/members would prefer to check out your resource list on their own terms during non-office hours, so make it available. Thanks!

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Logging weekly supervision conference calls or meetings

By admin on September 14, 2012 in AASC Online Forum, Reference Information

Question:

How do we log our time for the conference calls — should we consider that administrative time?

Answer:

Log them in the SC Daily Log under “meetings” towards the bottom (not the “administrative meetings” at the top – those are for meeting with property management/co-op leadership).

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Association of Chinese Americans events at Madison Heights Chinese Community Center

By admin on September 14, 2012 in General information, Reference Information

Upcoming Events

ACA Moon FestivalFri., September 28 at 10:30am

Join us in celebrating the Moon Festival. There will be entertainment, Chinese food for lunch, and moon cake raffles. Tickets are $5 ($2 for children 10 yrs. old and under).

ACA Senior Club Anniversary Fri, October 19 at 10am

Our Senior Club is 7 years old and going strong. To mark this anniversary there will be special performances followed by a catered lunch. Tickets are $4 for a general ticket and $2for seniors 60 years and older or children under 10 yrs. old.

ACA Thanksgiving Event Sat., November 10 at 3pm

We acknowledge and thank our dedicated volunteers who have helped us throughout the year. Program includes entertainment & Chinese dinner. Tickets are $6 for a general ticket and $4 for seniors 60 years and older or children under 10 years old.

Chinese Community Center address: 32585 Concord Drive Madison Heights, MI 48071 Phone: 248-585-9343 Fax: 1-888-708-2739
Office hours: Monday-Friday 10AM-4PM, Saturday-Sunday Closed

Detroit Service Center address: 4750 Woodward Ave., Suite 211 Detroit, MI 48201 Phone: 313-831-1790 Fax: 313-831-3613
Office hours: Monday-Thursday 9AM-4:00PM, Friday 10AM-4PM, Saturday-Sunday Closed

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