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S THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, April 5, 2019 SOUNDS | from page 18 Page 19 Arbor Day Program, Tuesday, Town will accept the same recycling items that can be placed outside for curbside collection each week, such as paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and glass containers. Additional acceptable items include the following: TVs and How SSI Can Help Low-Income Seniors and the Disabled Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the Supplemental Security Income program and what are the eligibility requirements? My father is very low-income, so I’m wondering if this is something he may qualify for. Searching Daughter Dear Searching, Supplemental Security Income (or SSI) is a program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash benefits to people that are disabled or over 65 based on financial need. Currently, more than 8 million people are receiving SSI benefits. Here’s what you should know. Eligibility Requirements To qualify for SSI your dad must be either age 65 or older, blind or disabled, and must be a U.S. citizen or lawful resident. He must also have limited assets and income. His assets must be less than $2,000 or $3,000 for couples. This includes cash, bank accounts, other personal property, and anything else that could potentially be converted to cash. His home, household goods and one vehicle, along with life insurance policies and burial funds valued under $1,500; do not count towards countable assets. The income limit to qualify for SSI, however, is much more complicated. Countable income includes wages or any other kind of money your dad earned from working, plus money he gets from other sources like unemployment, Social Security retirement, or gifts from friends, but also, free food or shelter. In 2019, the SSI allowable income limit is $771 a month for an individual or $1,157 a month for a couple. So, if your dad’s countable income is over the SSI allowable limit (this is based on a complex set of rules and calculations – see SSA.gov/ssi/ text-income-ussi.htm) he would not qualify. But if he’s under it, he would qualify for some benefits depending on his countable income. To help you determine if your dad is eligible for SSI, help him take the Social Security Administration’s benefits screening test at SSAbest.benefits.gov. This online questionnaire takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and screens for a variety of benefits, not just SSI. You should also know that most states – except Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia – supplement the federal SSI payment with payments of their own. In some of the states that pay a supplement, your dad may qualify for the state payment even if he doesn’t meet the federal SSI eligibility criteria. How to Apply If you think that your dad is eligible for SSI, call 800-772-1213 and set up an appointment to apply at his local Social Security office. To help make the application process go quickly and smoothly, your dad should bring his Social Security number; birth certificate or other proof of age; information about the home where he lives, such as his mortgage, or lease and the landlord’s name; payroll slips, bank books, insurance policies, burial fund records and other information about his income and the things he owns; his proof of U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status; and if he is applying for SSI because he is disabled or blind, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of doctors, hospitals and clinics that have information related to his condition. For more information visit SSA.gov/ssi or call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and ask them to mail you a copy of publication 11000 “Supplemental Security Income (SSI).” You can also read it online at SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-11000.pdf. Other Assistance Programs Depending on your dad’s income, needs and location there are other financial assistance programs that may be able to help him like Medicaid, prescription drug assistance, food stamps and energy assistance. To find out what he may be eligible for go to BenefitsCheckUp.org. This is a free, confidential Web tool that contains more than 2,500 programs. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. computers (up to three per year per address); bulky rigid plastic items, such as toys, laundry baskets, Rubbermaid trash barrels, 5-gallon pails; car tires up to 22″ (for a fee of $3); books; and textiles, such as clothing, bedding, pocketbooks, belts and shoes. Plastic bags are not permitted. Residents are kindly asked to empty recyclables out of any plastic bags, and remove the bags from the site. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Town compost site reopens April 13 The Town of Saugus announces that the community’s compost site will be open to residents on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The site is located behind the Department of Public Works at 515 Main St. Stickers are required to gain seasonal access to the site. Stickers may be purchased for $25 at the Department of Public Works and at the Inspectional Services Department located on the lower level of Town Hall (298 Central St.). Stickers may also be purchased at the compost site, by check only. Compost site stickers must be permanently placed on the lower left corner of residents’ automobile windshields. Vehicles registered out of state are not permitted. Yard waste must be disposed of in brown compost bags or open containers. The Town will accept grass clippings, leaves and brush. As in years past, no branches or limbs larger than three inches in diameter are permitted. Entry to the compost site without a sticker will not be allowed. Residents may call Lorna Cerbone at the Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 781-231-4036 with questions or for more information. Main attractions at the Saugus Public Library There’s always something interesting or entertaining going on at the Saugus Public Library for people of all ages, from young children to senior citizens. Here are a few events to check out: Spring Planting, Tuesday, April 9, at 3:30 p.m. Plant spring flowers and then take one home. Friendship Storytime on Fridays continues. This special program for children, which begins at 9:30 a.m., is sponsored by the Coordinated Family Community Engagement Grant. It can help parents nurture their child’s social and early literacy skill with structured storytime. Keeping Us in Stitches returned recently. It will continue every second and third Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.; Grade 2 and up; older children can learn to sew using needle, thread (and maybe a sewing machine) with teachers Miss Joyce and Miss Margie. Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten Playgroup! This program, which is sponsored by the Coordinated Community Engagement Grant, runs from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays. It’s recommended for children ages three through five. Poetry Contest! This is open to students in grades 6 through 12. Drop your poems off at the reference desk during the month of April. Celebrate National Poetry Month by submitting as many poems as you like. Winners will be notified at the beginning of May. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place. Winners will receive a poetry journal and a set of 18 fine-point colored pens. Creature Teachers – Animals Around the World: Thursday, April 25 at 3:30 p.m., ages three and up. New England Aquarium, Tidal Pools Alive! Thursday, April 18 (Spring Break). Three sessions, registration required: 1:30 p.m., ages three to five; 2:30 p.m., ages six to eight; 3:30 p.m., ages nine to 12. Empow Studio’s Digital Animation Workshop, Monday, April 22, 3:30 p.m. Empow Studio instructors work with students to develop storytelling skills, learn animation software and capture the action of movies; children ages eight and up. Registration required. April 30 at 3:30 p.m. Join Ms. Joyce to celebrate trees – story and craft – ages four and up. Homework helpers at the library The Saugus Public Library is again partnering with the Belmonte Middle School to offer free, drop-in tutoring and homework help twice a week to the town’s elementary school students to help foster strong academic and study skills outside of school hours. Members of the Junior National Honor Society from the Belmonte Middle School will work with students in the library’s Community Room on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, from 3 to 5 p.m. Under the program, which has received rave reviews in town, the elementary school students get help while the Belmonte students get credits for community service. No registration is required, but students must be signed in/out by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must remain on library grounds while the student is receiving homework assistance pursuant to an unaccompanied minors policy. This program is open to students in grades K-5. The subjects students can get help with include math, science, grammar, reading, social studies and geography. Hey parents, here’s some help if your child needs it. Of Veterans’ interest Veterans Services Officer Jay Pinette has passed along information on the following event outside of town that local veterans may be interested in: a Veterans Career Day set for Greater Boston veterans with Harvard University students. The students will volunteer from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 12 to support professional development of Boston veterans. Attendees must preregister no later than April 10. Contact Ellen Shaw-Peterson or David Michelson for details, It’s on the ninth floor of the JFK SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 21 J& S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. MULCH SALE! Discount Spring Special PICK-UP or DELIVERY AVAILABLE 617-389-1490 Premium Hemlock or Pitch Black BELOW WHOLESALE COSTS LANDSCAPERS WELCOME $43 yd. $38 yd.

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