Job Tips for 50+ Workers www.aarp.org/jobtips

[Pages:3]Job Tips for 50+ Workers

jobtips

Transition Assistance after Job Loss

If you lose or leave a job, you may qualify for financial and other help. Workers pay the taxes that fund many of these services. Employers provide other services. If you qualify, it is your right to receive certain benefits. So, don't hesitate to explore these services. It's in your best interest to find out what help is available for you.

How Is Your Health Insurance Protected if You Lose Your Job?

Three federal laws could affect your health insurance or your health care expenses:

y COBRA A federal law gives certain workers and their families the right to keep their group health insurance longer if they lose it due to changes in their work or family life. Such changes include losing a job or getting divorced. This is the COBRA law. It stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. If you meet certain conditions, your group health plan will continue to cover you and your family, usually for 18 to 36 months.

y HIPAA Another federal law protects you and your family when you are changing from one group health insurance plan to another or from a group to an individual plan. This is the HIPAA law, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA limits how long you need to wait to get care for a pre-existing medical problem. Your new group health plan can't turn you down or charge you higher monthly premiums just because of any past or present health problems.

y Medicaid Medicaid is a federal and state insurance program that helps pay the health care costs of some people with low incomes. Medicaid rules and benefits are different in each state. There is also a special health insurance program, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), for low-income children who may not qualify for Medicaid. SCHIP and Medicaid are administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, .

What If You're Permanently Disabled?

y Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays monthly cash benefits if you cannot work for a year or more due to a disability. To qualify, you must first have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security. You must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's very strict definition of disability. The rules for Social Security Disability can be confusing. But the government provides a lot of information to guide you. Find out how to apply for disability benefits at the Social Security web site, .

Where Can You Get Financial Help?

y Benefits QuickLink Benefits QuickLink is an online tool from the AARP Foundation which helps you find and apply for low and no-cost programs that can help you stay healthy, cover basic expenses, assist older relatives, and support children in your care. Benefits QuickLink helps you find state, federal, and private programs for which you are eligible.

How it works: You complete an online questionnaire in which you enter your information. You then get a report which tells you which programs you may be eligible for. The next step is to apply for each program. Find out more at quicklink.

y State fact sheets on public benefits The AARP Foundation also offers these easy-to-use state fact sheets about low and no-cost programs in your state.

y Unemployment insurance benefits If you are unemployed through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance payments. All states follow the guidelines in federal law, but administer separate unemployment insurance programs. Each state sets its own rules for eligibility, the amount of your benefit, and the length of time you can get benefits.

You can usually receive benefits for 26 weeks. During times of high unemployment or in special situations, you can get more weeks of benefits.

y SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

You may be eligible for a monthly income from SSI if you are 65 or older and have little money and don't own much. People of any age who are blind or have a disability may also be eligible. Every state has a different income limit that you can receive and still get SSI. You can own your home, a car, or a small bank account and still get SSI.

The basic federal SSI amount is $637 for an individual and $934 for a couple. Many states add extra money to this amount. Learn more about SSI on the Social Security web site,

Where Can You Get Help Finding Another Job?

? AARP Foundation WorkSearch and SCSEP

WorkSearch is a customized system that provides a variety of services at no cost. These include skills assessments, online courses to improve skills, and a personalized list of job matches.

If eligible, WorkSearch participants can enroll in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which serves low-income individuals 55 and over. SCSEP participants are placed in temporary assignments with nonprofit or government organizations, where they have an opportunity to sharpen and develop skills while searching for a permanent job.

Both programs are available at AARP Foundation SCSEP offices around the country. scsep

? Outplacement Services Many large employers offer company-paid assistance, called outplacement services, to help laid-off employees find new jobs. They are often quite extensive. They can include private sessions and workshops with career counselors and job-search experts.

? One-Stop Career Centers The U.S. Department of Labor set up the One-Stop system so that job seekers could find a continuum of employment services under one roof. A typical visit to a one-stop could involve a dislocated worker applying for unemployment benefits, undergoing a skills assessment, enrolling in a training program, or searching for jobs online. Find the One-Stop Career Center in your area at .

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download