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Union County Offers Assistance to Seniors Applying for Government Programs

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that, through a series of informative sessions beginning February 21, senior adults will now be able to obtain help in applying for a variety of federal, state and local government assistance programs through their local library or community center.

“The Freeholder Board recognizes how difficult it can be to navigate some of these assistance programs,” said Freeholder Chairman Linda Carter. “We hope that these informative sessions will reinforce our commitment to Union County’s seniors and help them maintain the best quality of life possible.”

As part of the program, the Union County Department of Human Services and Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC), will help seniors apply for programs including gas and electric support (LIFE LINE), pharmaceutical assistance (PAAD), and, home energy assistance (HEAP). There will also be screening for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility, and information about the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP).

Assistance will be available at the following locations:

  • Thursday, February 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Peterstown Community Center, Fourth and Palmer Streets, Elizabeth.
  • Tuesday, February 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Berkeley Heights Public Library, 290 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights.
  • Thursday, March 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Hillside Public Library, John F. Kennedy Plaza, Hillside.
  • Tuesday, March 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Street, Cranford.
  • Wednesday, March 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 P.m. at the Clark Library, 303 Westfield Avenue, Clark.

The Union County Division on Aging is one of 670 nationwide “area agencies on aging” established under the federal Older Americans Act. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 12.7 percent of Union County’s 536,499 residents are over age 65. With the exception of Elizabeth and Plainfield, 19 of the County’s 21 municipalities have a population that includes more than 11% of their population in the “65 and older” age bracket.

In 2012, the division was renamed to become the Division on Aging and Disability Resource (ADRC) in compliance with a state initiative to better serve elderly and disabled populations.

The Division’s goal is to promote wellness, independence, dignity and choice for seniors and their families through services like care management for the state’s Medicaid Waiver Programs, Global Options, and for the Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving Program (JACC),.

Other services and programs include Information and Assistance; the State Respite Program (SRP); and Nutrition programs, including home-delivered and congregate meals, the Farmers Market food voucher program, and nutrition education for seniors.

For further information about the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call the division’s toll-free number: 1-888-280-8226, or visit the Union County government website at www.ucnj.org. Printed information is available in both English and Spanish.

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