August 27, 2023 • 15 mins
This year’s New York City budget was marked by a lack of funding and cuts across the board. At the same time, New York State is losing out on an estimated $4.4 billion in economic stimulus because residents aren’t enrolled in benefits they qualify for. Our guest is Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP New York, with a plan to make it easier to search for those over 50 to find and apply for public benefits. For more, local.aarp.org/new-york-ny/
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
Welcome to Get Connected with Nina delRio, a weekly conversation about fitness,
health and happenings in our community onone oh six point seven Light FM.
Good morning, and thanks for listeningto get Connected. This year's New York
City budget was marked by a lackof funding cuts across the board. Yet
New York State is losing out onan estimated four point four billion in economic
(00:25):
stimulus because residents aren't enrolled in benefitsthey qualify for. Our guest is Beth
Finkel, State director of AARP NewYork, with a plan to make it
easier to search for and apply forpublic benefits. Beth, welcome back to
the show. Thank you so muchfor having me. The website is AAARP
dot org. First, a bitabout what you do, Beth. I
(00:46):
mean people generally know what AARP does. There's a nationwide presence thirty eight million
members, but AARP New York.What do you do and how does the
organization here focus on older New Yorkers? As you mentioned the national I can't
not mention national because aside from thepower of having thirty eight members, it's
(01:07):
about AARP out there every day workingon protective social security, Medicare, and
so many other issues. And ofcourse, knowing what the federal government is
doing or not doing is really importantfor everyone who's fifty and older to be
paying attention to because it impacts howthey can retire, when they can retire,
(01:29):
and what level of retirement they canhave, and what choices they can
make. So in terms of NewYork State, in New York State,
we actually have about two and ahalf million members and our and it's basically
the same thing. We want peopleto be able to make their own decisions
as they age. And if youdon't have the resources that you need as
(01:53):
you age, then you're to cutoff by making so many decisions that would
be important to you where you live, how you pay for your doctors,
how you pay for your medicines,how you pay for your food, how
you pay for utilities, how ifyou are able to be able to take
a vaccasion or a day of thebeach. So let's talk a little bit
(02:14):
about this particular issue. Cuts inthe city budget, a loss of economic
stimulus too, because residents aren't enrolledin benefit programs they qualify for. Can
you drill down on that just alittle bit. There are many benefits that
actually are paid by the federal government. They're not even paid by New York
City or New York State. Andone of them is a snap while some
(02:35):
people used to know it as foodstamps. And then another one that is
so not well known, and I'mso glad that's time to tell folks,
which is the Medicare Savings program.So if you are on Medicare but you're
a lower income person, there arebenefits to help you pay your Medicare payments.
(02:57):
And everyone knows your social Security check. Medicare gets deducted from your Social
Security check every month your contribution toit, and if you are eligible for
this Medicare Savings program, it willno longer be deducted from your Social Security
check. To the tune of possiblyone hundred and sixty dollars a month.
That will not be deducted from yourSocial Security check. That can put a
(03:21):
lot of food on the table,that can help pay a utility bill.
So we're really anxious to get thatout there because AARP has been working for
the last few years to get theeligibility changed from the Medicare Savings program,
and now it is raised to onehundred and eighty six percent of the federal
poverty rate was one hundred and thirtyfive percent. What this means that people
(03:43):
listening today is three hundred thousand ofyou are now going to be eligible under
this new eligibility for that hundred andsixty dollars a month back into your Social
Security check. So we really hopethat people will find out about this.
They can go to New York City'sPARGM for the Aging. They can call
three to one one and get connectedto New York City's part for the Aging.
(04:05):
They can also go to the MedicareRights Center and get information from them.
But in the meantime, why thissize into what I'm saying is why
the heck is it so difficult tosign up for benefits? They do not
make it easy, right, folks. It's so interesting to me when you
(04:26):
hear about this all the time,these underutilized benefits. I've read that across
the USBETH fourteen million adults age sixtyyear older qualify for SNAP benefits and have
not signed up. New York that'sa huge number. There's also the Senior
Citizen Rent Increase Program. These underutilizedprograms, yes, the SCREEP program yes.
And by the way, they havethe same program for people with disabilities,
(04:46):
and it helps pay your rent,and again it lower income, but
some of it goes to help moderateincome. So you shouldn't hear the word
benefits or entitlement. That's not me. You know I have money coming in
every month. Well, you justmight not have sufficient money coming in every
month. That's why AARP is workingwith a number of other groups to try
(05:11):
to get New York City right nowhas something called my Portal, and the
Mayor has been really terrific about lookingat that and trying to draw attention and
getting more people, families and childrento sign up on my Portal to find
out about their benefits. What wewould like, which is just common sense,
(05:33):
is why would you just do itfor family and children? Why would
you not do it for older NewYorkers? Also, because we know that
the numbers of older New Yorkers aresky sky rocketing in New York. Sixty
five plus in New York from thelast between the two less censuses went up
thirty six percent. Thirty six percent, that's a big increase in the number
(05:59):
of five plus in New York.And on top of that, the number
of people that are living below thepoverty line is increased by thirty seven percent
of those older adults, so nowis the time to help them. We're
speaking with Beth Finkel of AARP,New York. This is one of six
point seven Light FM. I'mina delRio. You're listening to get connected.
(06:20):
As far as the benefits and services, now, they're geared towards families and
children. This is phase one.What benefits and services would you like to
see included in the update, Well, we certainly want to see snack.
We'd like to see the Medicare savingsprogram. And then we also would like
to see more people enrolled in heatwhich helps people pay for their utilities.
(06:45):
And so we believe that if wecould have a more technically savvy this is
twenty twenty three, folks, They'reable to do everything else by technology.
Why can't we help older adults ina more uniform, universal way. Put
in your information. If you're eligiblefor something, just automatically get signed up
(07:05):
for it if you get permission forit. Two barriers to that. So
you know, the my City portalas it is has assistance in ten languages,
which is excellent. But when Ithink about my own parents just navigating
these kinds of sites can be theirown barrier. Would there need to be
a rebuild more human assistance? Isthat something you're asking for as well,
just to make it more accessible,Yes, for sure. But the first
(07:28):
step, the first step is tobe able to make it simpler to begin
with. Because that way, youknock on any door in New York City
social services or a senior center orany place that you might go in and
try to access benefits. What youwould find then is this computer system that
anybody who's assisting you could just checkyour off for everything and immediately put your
(07:51):
benefit, your applications in. Wehave a sort of system on that,
but it has a long way togo to really get to where it should
be. I mean, folks,we have self driving cars, we have
all these other things right, andyet a computer program can't be updated.
It just says people have to stayin government have to say we need to
(08:16):
get this done. And I wantto go back to your original point,
which is, not only would itput over two billion dollars back in the
pockets of New Yorkers, it wouldalso what the point you made was the
economic stimulus, It would be overalmost four and a half billion dollars with
a B for it have billion dollarsalmost back into economic stimulus. So when
(08:41):
older people get more money in theirSocial Security check or anywhere else, they're
not taking that money and sending itoffshore to protect it from taxes. They're
going down to the local grocery store, odega, drug store, you name
it. They're spending it in theirneighborhood. And we need that. We
need that more than ever in NewYork. Going back to a point you
(09:03):
made earlier as well, regardless ofwhere the help is, some people just
don't want to do it. They'reconflicted about it, they don't want to
be a burden. I'm sure youhear that all the time, your thoughts
about that. There's a stigma attachedto getting help. People have you see
themselves as taking care of themselves.They've worked hard all their lives, they've
(09:24):
paid their taxes, they've been involvedcivically, and that, well, that's
for the other guy. I don'tneed that. I can make too.
You know what, You're entitled tothis. You've paid into the system.
We all as taxpayers have paid andjust for that reason that people among us
would need extra help who shouldn't haveto make a decision between buying their groceries
(09:50):
or buying their medicines. They shouldn'thave to take medicines and cut them in
half and not take the correct dosage. They shouldn't have to fall behind on
their utility built for having stakes.You know, none of that is what
New York or America for that part, is supposed to be about. And
one more reminder, most of thesedollars are federal dollars that could be drawn
(10:11):
down. So the my city portalis just for New York City. But
if for anybody listening, Westchester LongIsland, older New Yorkers are underutilizing these
benefits, how is the state doing? Is there something analogous outside of the
city. So I'm so glad youraised that, because yes, we are
raising this with the Governor's office becausewe really cannot. Again, the governor
(10:35):
came out who stayed of the stateand her agencies want to work on it
to try to get families and childrenconnected to benefits that they need, and
that is fabulous and we couldn't beany happier than than doing it. But
again, why the heck are theyleaving out older New Yorkers who need this
desperately, and again is tied backto federal dollars. And again it's about
(10:58):
technology and the will to prioritize thisas a need and a need we need
right away. And I got tohit that economic stimulus button that you raise,
because in these economic times all acrossNew York State, we need to
put more money back in people's pockets. To lead one hundred and sixty dollars
a month, they could go backinto an individual Social Security check and help
(11:22):
them buy food, help them paythe dry cleaner, help them whatever it
is they need in these inflationary times. It's just it's craziness not to take
care of it. You've been talkingabout this since the My City portal was
launched, I believe in early July. Have you heard back from the Mayor's
office or city government about it.Well, we have had meetings. They
are telling us that they're looking atit, but we're not getting a timetable,
(11:45):
so we don't know when when it'sgoing to happen. And why delayed
drawing down those federal dollars and puttingthem back into New Yorker's pockets so they
can spend that money right here inNew York can someone listening or how can
someone listening help you? Push?Oh well, please a mayor's office and
say, you know, we wantto be able to have be able to
(12:07):
get connected to benefits, just likefamily and children. Why aren't you doing
it for us? We need it? A question about you, Beth,
if you don't mind, you've spentyour career doing this work, programming and
working in advocacy for older New Yorkerswith caregiving and financial security and long term
care. Can you talk about workingin this field? What keeps you so
(12:28):
engaged with this? Yeah, that'sfunnyway. I was out with my staff.
We had a staff meeting and wewere talking about this because you know,
we all get motivated like, well, why is it important to us?
And I realized that I was doingthis when I was a child.
I grew up in Queens and Itook the public bus to to my junior
(12:48):
high school every day. And I'mgoing to date myself. But when you
got when you took the bus inthose days, they still had a box
that you put coins into and thebus driver amazingly gave a change. And
my bus stop was right on acorner and that they then turned and made
a sharp turn up up the avenue, and we had a mean bus driver.
(13:11):
I don't even have to say hemeans. And the little old ladies
there are a lot of little oldladies in my neighborhood and they get on
the bus and he would they givehim the money, and as he handed
them to change before they sat down, he'd like throw the change with them
and turn the corners. Well,the little ladies would continually fall down or
(13:31):
lose their balance or not be ableto get their change. It was terrible.
So I think I was twelve yearsold. I wrote a letter to
the bus department and a bus companyand told him what was happening. But
I saw in my mother's name,got bad attention to do a twelve year
old. And then my mother gota phone call one day saying, you
know, missus, whatever we've takencare of this for you, the bus
(13:56):
driver is it will no longer beworking for us. Why let me gets
to quote what are they talking?But you know, I guess that taught
me a lesson, you know,in civic action. And I guess back
to what you were saying, whatcan people do today? You know,
pick up the phone, write thatletter, you know, tell people what
(14:16):
you think. Because there's great peoplein government and great people in government and
they want to help. It's sometimeswe got to steer them in the right
direction, or we have to helpthem prioritize a little bit better. I
agree with that. Beth Finkel isthe state director of AARP New York.
You can find out more about theirwork at AARP dot org, slash and
why. Beth Finkel, thank youfor being on the show. This was
(14:39):
fun anytime. Thank you so much. It's it's great that you're shining a
light on this. I really appreciateit. This has been get connected with
Nina del Rio on one of sixpoint seven light FM. The views and
opinions of our guests do not necessarilyreflect the views of the station. If
you missed any part of our showor want to share it, visit our
website. We're download ods and podcastsat one oh six seven lightfm dot com.
(15:03):
Thanks for listening. M
Welcome to Get Connected with Nina delRio, a weekly conversation about fitness,
health and happenings in our community onone oh six point seven Light FM.
Good morning, and thanks for listeningto get Connected. This year's New York
City budget was marked by a lackof funding cuts across the board. Yet
New York State is losing out onan estimated four point four billion in economic
(00:25):
stimulus because residents aren't enrolled in benefitsthey qualify for. Our guest is Beth
Finkel, State director of AARP NewYork, with a plan to make it
easier to search for and apply forpublic benefits. Beth, welcome back to
the show. Thank you so muchfor having me. The website is AAARP
dot org. First, a bitabout what you do, Beth. I
(00:46):
mean people generally know what AARP does. There's a nationwide presence thirty eight million
members, but AARP New York.What do you do and how does the
organization here focus on older New Yorkers? As you mentioned the national I can't
not mention national because aside from thepower of having thirty eight members, it's
(01:07):
about AARP out there every day workingon protective social security, Medicare, and
so many other issues. And ofcourse, knowing what the federal government is
doing or not doing is really importantfor everyone who's fifty and older to be
paying attention to because it impacts howthey can retire, when they can retire,
(01:29):
and what level of retirement they canhave, and what choices they can
make. So in terms of NewYork State, in New York State,
we actually have about two and ahalf million members and our and it's basically
the same thing. We want peopleto be able to make their own decisions
as they age. And if youdon't have the resources that you need as
(01:53):
you age, then you're to cutoff by making so many decisions that would
be important to you where you live, how you pay for your doctors,
how you pay for your medicines,how you pay for your food, how
you pay for utilities, how ifyou are able to be able to take
a vaccasion or a day of thebeach. So let's talk a little bit
(02:14):
about this particular issue. Cuts inthe city budget, a loss of economic
stimulus too, because residents aren't enrolledin benefit programs they qualify for. Can
you drill down on that just alittle bit. There are many benefits that
actually are paid by the federal government. They're not even paid by New York
City or New York State. Andone of them is a snap while some
(02:35):
people used to know it as foodstamps. And then another one that is
so not well known, and I'mso glad that's time to tell folks,
which is the Medicare Savings program.So if you are on Medicare but you're
a lower income person, there arebenefits to help you pay your Medicare payments.
(02:57):
And everyone knows your social Security check. Medicare gets deducted from your Social
Security check every month your contribution toit, and if you are eligible for
this Medicare Savings program, it willno longer be deducted from your Social Security
check. To the tune of possiblyone hundred and sixty dollars a month.
That will not be deducted from yourSocial Security check. That can put a
(03:21):
lot of food on the table,that can help pay a utility bill.
So we're really anxious to get thatout there because AARP has been working for
the last few years to get theeligibility changed from the Medicare Savings program,
and now it is raised to onehundred and eighty six percent of the federal
poverty rate was one hundred and thirtyfive percent. What this means that people
(03:43):
listening today is three hundred thousand ofyou are now going to be eligible under
this new eligibility for that hundred andsixty dollars a month back into your Social
Security check. So we really hopethat people will find out about this.
They can go to New York City'sPARGM for the Aging. They can call
three to one one and get connectedto New York City's part for the Aging.
(04:05):
They can also go to the MedicareRights Center and get information from them.
But in the meantime, why thissize into what I'm saying is why
the heck is it so difficult tosign up for benefits? They do not
make it easy, right, folks. It's so interesting to me when you
(04:26):
hear about this all the time,these underutilized benefits. I've read that across
the USBETH fourteen million adults age sixtyyear older qualify for SNAP benefits and have
not signed up. New York that'sa huge number. There's also the Senior
Citizen Rent Increase Program. These underutilizedprograms, yes, the SCREEP program yes.
And by the way, they havethe same program for people with disabilities,
(04:46):
and it helps pay your rent,and again it lower income, but
some of it goes to help moderateincome. So you shouldn't hear the word
benefits or entitlement. That's not me. You know I have money coming in
every month. Well, you justmight not have sufficient money coming in every
month. That's why AARP is workingwith a number of other groups to try
(05:11):
to get New York City right nowhas something called my Portal, and the
Mayor has been really terrific about lookingat that and trying to draw attention and
getting more people, families and childrento sign up on my Portal to find
out about their benefits. What wewould like, which is just common sense,
(05:33):
is why would you just do itfor family and children? Why would
you not do it for older NewYorkers? Also, because we know that
the numbers of older New Yorkers aresky sky rocketing in New York. Sixty
five plus in New York from thelast between the two less censuses went up
thirty six percent. Thirty six percent, that's a big increase in the number
(05:59):
of five plus in New York.And on top of that, the number
of people that are living below thepoverty line is increased by thirty seven percent
of those older adults, so nowis the time to help them. We're
speaking with Beth Finkel of AARP,New York. This is one of six
point seven Light FM. I'mina delRio. You're listening to get connected.
(06:20):
As far as the benefits and services, now, they're geared towards families and
children. This is phase one.What benefits and services would you like to
see included in the update, Well, we certainly want to see snack.
We'd like to see the Medicare savingsprogram. And then we also would like
to see more people enrolled in heatwhich helps people pay for their utilities.
(06:45):
And so we believe that if wecould have a more technically savvy this is
twenty twenty three, folks, They'reable to do everything else by technology.
Why can't we help older adults ina more uniform, universal way. Put
in your information. If you're eligiblefor something, just automatically get signed up
(07:05):
for it if you get permission forit. Two barriers to that. So
you know, the my City portalas it is has assistance in ten languages,
which is excellent. But when Ithink about my own parents just navigating
these kinds of sites can be theirown barrier. Would there need to be
a rebuild more human assistance? Isthat something you're asking for as well,
just to make it more accessible,Yes, for sure. But the first
(07:28):
step, the first step is tobe able to make it simpler to begin
with. Because that way, youknock on any door in New York City
social services or a senior center orany place that you might go in and
try to access benefits. What youwould find then is this computer system that
anybody who's assisting you could just checkyour off for everything and immediately put your
(07:51):
benefit, your applications in. Wehave a sort of system on that,
but it has a long way togo to really get to where it should
be. I mean, folks,we have self driving cars, we have
all these other things right, andyet a computer program can't be updated.
It just says people have to stayin government have to say we need to
(08:16):
get this done. And I wantto go back to your original point,
which is, not only would itput over two billion dollars back in the
pockets of New Yorkers, it wouldalso what the point you made was the
economic stimulus, It would be overalmost four and a half billion dollars with
a B for it have billion dollarsalmost back into economic stimulus. So when
(08:41):
older people get more money in theirSocial Security check or anywhere else, they're
not taking that money and sending itoffshore to protect it from taxes. They're
going down to the local grocery store, odega, drug store, you name
it. They're spending it in theirneighborhood. And we need that. We
need that more than ever in NewYork. Going back to a point you
(09:03):
made earlier as well, regardless ofwhere the help is, some people just
don't want to do it. They'reconflicted about it, they don't want to
be a burden. I'm sure youhear that all the time, your thoughts
about that. There's a stigma attachedto getting help. People have you see
themselves as taking care of themselves.They've worked hard all their lives, they've
(09:24):
paid their taxes, they've been involvedcivically, and that, well, that's
for the other guy. I don'tneed that. I can make too.
You know what, You're entitled tothis. You've paid into the system.
We all as taxpayers have paid andjust for that reason that people among us
would need extra help who shouldn't haveto make a decision between buying their groceries
(09:50):
or buying their medicines. They shouldn'thave to take medicines and cut them in
half and not take the correct dosage. They shouldn't have to fall behind on
their utility built for having stakes.You know, none of that is what
New York or America for that part, is supposed to be about. And
one more reminder, most of thesedollars are federal dollars that could be drawn
(10:11):
down. So the my city portalis just for New York City. But
if for anybody listening, Westchester LongIsland, older New Yorkers are underutilizing these
benefits, how is the state doing? Is there something analogous outside of the
city. So I'm so glad youraised that, because yes, we are
raising this with the Governor's office becausewe really cannot. Again, the governor
(10:35):
came out who stayed of the stateand her agencies want to work on it
to try to get families and childrenconnected to benefits that they need, and
that is fabulous and we couldn't beany happier than than doing it. But
again, why the heck are theyleaving out older New Yorkers who need this
desperately, and again is tied backto federal dollars. And again it's about
(10:58):
technology and the will to prioritize thisas a need and a need we need
right away. And I got tohit that economic stimulus button that you raise,
because in these economic times all acrossNew York State, we need to
put more money back in people's pockets. To lead one hundred and sixty dollars
a month, they could go backinto an individual Social Security check and help
(11:22):
them buy food, help them paythe dry cleaner, help them whatever it
is they need in these inflationary times. It's just it's craziness not to take
care of it. You've been talkingabout this since the My City portal was
launched, I believe in early July. Have you heard back from the Mayor's
office or city government about it.Well, we have had meetings. They
are telling us that they're looking atit, but we're not getting a timetable,
(11:45):
so we don't know when when it'sgoing to happen. And why delayed
drawing down those federal dollars and puttingthem back into New Yorker's pockets so they
can spend that money right here inNew York can someone listening or how can
someone listening help you? Push?Oh well, please a mayor's office and
say, you know, we wantto be able to have be able to
(12:07):
get connected to benefits, just likefamily and children. Why aren't you doing
it for us? We need it? A question about you, Beth,
if you don't mind, you've spentyour career doing this work, programming and
working in advocacy for older New Yorkerswith caregiving and financial security and long term
care. Can you talk about workingin this field? What keeps you so
(12:28):
engaged with this? Yeah, that'sfunnyway. I was out with my staff.
We had a staff meeting and wewere talking about this because you know,
we all get motivated like, well, why is it important to us?
And I realized that I was doingthis when I was a child.
I grew up in Queens and Itook the public bus to to my junior
(12:48):
high school every day. And I'mgoing to date myself. But when you
got when you took the bus inthose days, they still had a box
that you put coins into and thebus driver amazingly gave a change. And
my bus stop was right on acorner and that they then turned and made
a sharp turn up up the avenue, and we had a mean bus driver.
(13:11):
I don't even have to say hemeans. And the little old ladies
there are a lot of little oldladies in my neighborhood and they get on
the bus and he would they givehim the money, and as he handed
them to change before they sat down, he'd like throw the change with them
and turn the corners. Well,the little ladies would continually fall down or
(13:31):
lose their balance or not be ableto get their change. It was terrible.
So I think I was twelve yearsold. I wrote a letter to
the bus department and a bus companyand told him what was happening. But
I saw in my mother's name,got bad attention to do a twelve year
old. And then my mother gota phone call one day saying, you
know, missus, whatever we've takencare of this for you, the bus
(13:56):
driver is it will no longer beworking for us. Why let me gets
to quote what are they talking?But you know, I guess that taught
me a lesson, you know,in civic action. And I guess back
to what you were saying, whatcan people do today? You know,
pick up the phone, write thatletter, you know, tell people what
(14:16):
you think. Because there's great peoplein government and great people in government and
they want to help. It's sometimeswe got to steer them in the right
direction, or we have to helpthem prioritize a little bit better. I
agree with that. Beth Finkel isthe state director of AARP New York.
You can find out more about theirwork at AARP dot org, slash and
why. Beth Finkel, thank youfor being on the show. This was
(14:39):
fun anytime. Thank you so much. It's it's great that you're shining a
light on this. I really appreciateit. This has been get connected with
Nina del Rio on one of sixpoint seven light FM. The views and
opinions of our guests do not necessarilyreflect the views of the station. If
you missed any part of our showor want to share it, visit our
website. We're download ods and podcastsat one oh six seven lightfm dot com.
(15:03):
Thanks for listening. M
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