PORT BYRON, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is reminding residents that his office remains available to help seniors apply for state benefits they may be eligible for.
"The difficulty of navigating state agencies and programs can often hinder area residents from receiving the benefits they qualify for," Smiddy said. "Many low-income seniors in our area are eligible to receive price breaks for items like public transportation and new Illinois license plates, and when living on a fixed income, these discount programs can make all the divergence in their budget.”
Illinois' Benefit Access Program allows seniors age 65 years of age and older and persons with disabilities bringing in less than $27,610 per year to qualify for reduced prices on license plate renewals and public transportation. Smiddy’s office can help answer eligibility questions and fill out the application itself. Applications are only available online and this can keep eligible seniors from receiving benefits. Smiddy's office has computers and trained staff on hand to assist in this process.
“Low-income seniors should not be missing out on the basic help they deserve because they do not have access to the internet or knowledge of computer skills. We are here to help” Smiddy said. "As a state representative, I want to be a resource for the communities I serve, and I invite all area seniors to utilize my office for help receiving their benefits.”
The Benefit Access Program is a program of the Illinois Department on Aging. Help applying for the program through Smiddy’s office is free. Please call the program’s toll free information number at 1-800-252-8966 or 1-888-206-1327 (TTY) for questions or Smiddy’s constituent service office at 309-848-9098 to set up an appointment with office staff to receive assistance navigating this process.
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