Lesson 9: Benefits, Entitlements, and Community Services


Attention

graphic describing Section 8, Medicaid, and Food Stamps


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • MHRT Outcome: Understand benefit and entitlement programs
  • MHRT Outcome: Knowledge of the community provider system

Teaching

This particular lesson is going to be somewhat of a "Scavenger Hunt"! As future case managers, it is beneficial for you to be able to go out and find information about benefits, entitlements, and about the community or providers in your area.

We live in a society where there are many services that are provided for those in need. Some are free for everyone while some are geared toward the most disabled and poor. So let's discuss some of the terminology that we need to understand before we go on our hunt!

Benefits

We often hear this term in regard to jobs...we might have a job we don't like but we certainly like the "benefits" package. This might include insurance, a 401K, profit sharing, or even a membership at a gym. Benefits include all those things that a person can take advantage of because of a status they have. In relation to the job example I just gave the status is "employed by the company".

Example: I'm employed by Kennebec Valley Community College, which is part of the Maine Community College system. As such I have a benefit package that includes:

  • Maine State Retirement
  • Health Insurance (including the ability to have insurance for my family)
  • Access to additional retirement options

Other benefits of my employment include:

  • Educator discounts at Barnes and Noble and most software and computer companies
  • Support for continued professional development such as attending conferences and taking classes

When we are dealing with the elderly, they may have multiple statuses that have different benefits...along with their age itself (which is a status...think that elderly people can get discount cards at Dunkin Donuts and belong to AARP!)

Entitlements

Entitlements are a class of benefits that a person has "earned"...meaning they have paid a premium for it (such as regular worker Social Security benefits) or because of their status.

Entitlements also, for the most part, cannot be taken away. If someone is entitled to receive SS benefits they cannot turn them down.

Certain entitlements may be for specific statuses such as veterans, children, etc.

Welfare

A LOT of welfare looks like entitlements, but they are very different. They are different in that the person getting the welfare did not pay for them in any way. Welfare comes in many forms and is present because the basic needs of some people exceed their own ability to meet them, and we live in a society that tries to meet these same basic needs.

Typical welfare benefits may include:

  • Supplemental Security Income
  • Food Stamps
  • WIC
  • Heating Assistance
  • General Assistance

It might be surprising to consider it, but many of the services that are available in a modern society have a welfare slant to them. Tax dollars pay for these things but they are available to everyone even if they don't pay taxes. These include:

  • Public Schools
  • Public Safety (such as police, fire, etc.)
  • Government Programs
  • Financial Aid

Community Providers

Within any given community there are agencies, offices, businesses, and people who are tasked with providing benefits, entitlements, and welfare services.

Sometimes the services are provided on a very local level while others are regionalized. Here are some examples:

  • My health insurance is provided by my workplace (pretty local, but it is managed state-wide)
  • My Vocational Rehabilitation services that supported the purchase of my hearing aids involved working at the regional office in Skowhegan
  • If I was a veteran I would have had to go to the VA Hospital at Togus for services
  • If I were getting Food Stamps it would be administered through the DHS office in Skowhegan
  • If I needed General Assistance I would go to the local town office

As a case manager it is vital that you be able to do research to find where people need to go to get services in the areas in which they are located.

Some Community Services consist of services that are available for everyone, others you might need to qualify for. For example, everyone can take advantage of the police, town office services, and schools, but you will need to be qualified to take advantage of Vocational Rehabilitation, Legal Services for the Elderly, and/or Food Stamps.


Assessment

Lesson 9 Quiz

  1. What is the difference between an entitlement and a welfare benefit? Give ONE example of each.
  2. Based on these definitions list ONE entitlement benefit that YOU have access to.
  3. Based on these definitions list ONE welfare benefit that you have access to.
  4. Reflect on the various, possibly surprising, examples of "welfare" that I included in my notes...when we consider reforming welfare what might that entail for services that we all take for granted?

Lesson 9 Assignment

In the two case studies you need to outline what you would do for this person...you will have to be creative in some instances. You have to also list the specific agencies and contact information related to each of the tasks you would provide. For example, if you were going to get the 65 year-old veteran on Food Stamps where would you go in Augusta? Be THAT specific!

Some of this will entail looking up information on the web and even making phone calls, so be prepared!

Case Study 1:
65 year-old veteran with a service-connected disability is living with his parents and needs to move out. What benefits, entitlements, and welfare options would you explore. He lives in Augusta, ME and wishes to continue living there. He has insurance through the VA.

Case Study 2:
72 year-old man living alone in Waterville can no longer drive. He is isolated, needs transportation to any medical appointments, and has a small social security check that barely covers his rent. It is unknown if he has any insurance.