Friend with mental illness needing help managing social security and medicare benefits

I have a friend who is on disability for a mental illness. She is located in Essex county. She's become very overwhelmed, paranoid and confused lately. Is there someone who can manage her benefits so she doesn't make mistakes and lose them? She's also involved with a work program and isn't sure how that program works either and doesn't always understand what they are telling her. To top it all off, she is married so the combined income level might affect things and of course, the paranoia thing doesn't help her feel that he can help her. What agencies or advocates might be out there for her? Money is an issue. Thanks.

Try here, it is the listed place for Essex County's Protective Services for Adults:

Essex
FOCUS, Hispanic Center for Human Dev., Inc.
441-443 Broad St.
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-596-1146 or 866-903-6287 (toll-free)
After Hrs: 911, local police, first aid or hospital

I would call Essex County Mental Health. They have an office in Montclair. Is her work program part of the county system? Sounds like she needs a case manager. I was trying to locate the exact website, but my wi-fi connection is cantakerous, so I can't supply that info.

Steve said:
Try here, it is the listed place for Essex County's Protective Services for Adults:
Essex

My mother has dementia issues. Paranoia gets to be part of it. Its very difficult dealing with it. I have POA but once she complained to her PCP who specializes in geriatrics. He's highly rated and highly experienced.

He told her a family member could handle her affairs. If she doesn't want that then a lawyer, $$$. Or protective services. He said protective services involved can be very unpleasant.

SAGE Eldercare in Summit may be able to help. Even though it's based in Union county, they serve residents of other communities and can suggest resources that may be of assistance.

While Sage is a wonderful place, do they handle people who are not elderly?

Honestly, I don't think you can trust any agency to do that for her. She would need a lawyer to advise her. The support programs do things like help you apply for benefits, but not actually manage them.

jmitw said:
Honestly, I don't think you can trust any agency to do that for her. She would need a lawyer to advise her. The support programs do things like help you apply for benefits, but not actually manage them.

Not sure about NJ, but in NY, Protective Services for Adults not only assists in applying for benefits, but will manage your finances, too (in particular, paying bills).

Here is the link to family support for mental health services for Essex County.

http://www.mhaessex.org/family-support.html

She must be very careful to not be "overpaid" by her job. My brother was overpaid by as little as a few dollars per month for 15 years. Now he owes $60,000 and been cut of disability and Medicare. Try to not get a lawyer involved as they will charge a lot of money, and same with Court Appointed Guardians. the courts will appoint a Guardian, but it's an awful scene, don't even go there.

She has no family members to do it?

Contact the social service department in her municipality. Each town has such a person.

But be careful with contacting some gov't employees. You don't want her declared incompetent. The State will take over.

I know someone that tried getting help from adult protective services in another county and was told to call someone else...they outright refused to come out.

Don't get me going on gov't agencies. Many are awful.

Please contact the Community Health Law Project. http://www.chlp.org/ They are right on Valley Street in South Orange. They provide legal and non-legal services to qualified disabled and low-income individuals. This is precisely the sort of cases they deal with. They are a group of very dedicated people devoted to assisting their clients navigate living in the community.

As an aside, I use to work for them, many years ago. I know the level of compassion and the dignity with which they regard their clients,because over the years I have referred many people who were eligible for their services, and they all had good outcomes.

isn't chlp for VERY LOW income only?

The Board of Trustees of the Community Health Law Project (CHLP) has approved the initiation of a low cost Fee-for-Service legal service program to assist individuals living with disabilities and their families. The program will have a sliding fee scale ranging from $125 to $175 per hour, or in certain specific instances a flat fee. The program will have an income eligibility limit of 325% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) which, in 2015, is $38,252 for an individual and $78,812 for a family of four. There will also be an asset limit of $100,000, excluding the value of their residence and certain other property.

For 38 years, the CHLP has provided free civil legal services to individuals whose income is no greater than 175% of the poverty level. The organization will continue to do so for many clients living with disabilities.