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PSGDC Helps with
Benefits and Entitlements
The idea of accessing benefits and entitlements is often confusing for seniors and their families. They don’t know where to turn when they need services, and they don’t know what services are available to them.

When they do apply for benefits and entitlements, they don’t have anyone to guide them through the arduous process of completing the application and providing the agency with the information it needs in order to determine eligibility.

PSGDC is giving special attention to securing benefits and entitlements for seniors. Our new Benefits & Entitlements Coordinator, Sandy Casillas, began working in January and already has a busy schedule of community outreach events. Through a partnership with Citibank, Sandy has arranged to be at the Park Slope branch one day each month to talk with customers about benefits and entitlements for which they may be eligible. Sandy has even counseled the bank’s employees about benefits for their older family members.

Sandy has also been doing outreach presentations at senior centers in Brooklyn. So far, she has presented at Park Slope and Ft. Hamilton senior centers, and has scheduled presentations at Windsor Terrace, Harbor Hill, GRIOT Circle, and others.

Because all of the seniors in the community may not frequent senior centers, PSGDC is attempting to reach out to the public by establishing a presence in places not usually associated with social services. In April, as part of a series presented by PSGDC and the Brooklyn Public Library, Sandy will be informing seniors and caregivers in two library branches about benefits and entitlements. She is also making arrangements with Barnes and Noble to table in their Park Slope branch once a month.



In addition to getting the word out about Benefits and Entitlements, Sandy will be providing follow-up counseling for the seniors she has assisted with the application process. Often, applications get lost in the system, or benefits are denied, and the senior doesn’t know what their next step should be. Sandy will assist with advocating and appealing the decision if necessary.

It is our goal to ensure that seniors access all the services for which they are eligible. We will continue to seek out new ways to reach seniors in our community to let them know what is available to enhance their quality of life.

-- By Deborah Warburton