Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Community Resources

  • Creating a ‘my Social Security’ Account

    The Social Security Administration offers a personal online service that allows you to estimate, plan and manage your benefits. This article provides information on how to create an account, some plusses and minuses and a few links.

    There are a few requirements. You must have 1) a valid email address; 2) a social security number; 3) a U.S. mailing address; and 4) be at least eighteen years of age. If you do not have an email account you can easily obtain one through such free services as Google, Outlook or Yahoo.

    To start the process, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount and click the button labeled ‘Sign In or Create an Account.’ You will be required to provide personal information so as to verify your identity. You must choose a username and password to establish and access your new account.

    There are a number of features to ‘my Social Security’ that give you fast service when you need it. If you are applying for other benefits – for example, an application for heating assistance or SNAP (formerly food stamps) you can print out a benefit statement without having to wait for Social Security to mail it to you. You can even save the benefit statement and email it as an attachment! A downside to using the service is that it should be used by a single individual, not to be used by another person on your behalf, so Social Security officials indicate. You also can’t use another person’s email address, for security reasons.

    This online service has many advantages to individuals, to the Social Security Administration and even to other governmental agencies that administer safety net programs. To learn more, visit my Social Security: How To Create An Online Account
    and watch a video. A training video is also available for social service agencies. Representatives from Social Security are available at 800-772-1213, if there are problems setting up an account.

  • State Rental Assistance Enrollment Begins March 6

    Pre-applications for low income elderly, disabled and families will be available online starting Monday, March 6 under the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), according to a press release and public notice issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

    The application process will be conducted online only beginning Monday, March 6, 2017 at 10am and continuing to Friday, March 10 at 5pm.

    If selected, applicants must meet the income limits of the county where they are being subsidized and provide proof of residency. Income limits are county-specific, based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines of 30% – 40% area median income.

    Applications will be open in three categories:

    • Elderly – the head of household must be 62 years of age or over
    • Family – the head of household is at least 18 years of age or an emancipated minor; with or without children
    • Disabled – the head of household or spouse is permanently disabled

    The online pre-applications will be entered into a database and applicants will be selected through a lottery process, all to be placed on a waiting list. Submission does not guarantee placement on a SRAP waiting list. No paper applications are available. Applicants are required to furnish an email address. Individuals selected by the lottery will be notified via email which may take several weeks.

    The online application process begins Monday, March 6. Visit
    https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559.

    More information is available from the Department of Community Affairs on the following web pages:
    Public Notice (English)
    Public Notice (Spanish)
    Application FAQ (English)
    Application FAQ (Spanish)
    SRAP Statewide Waiting List Open Enrollment Website

  • Today Is National 2-1-1 Day

    With every passing year, new partnerships are made between NJ 2-1-1 and government and community organizations. These partnerships establish clear pathways for people to follow when help is needed. In celebration of national 2-1-1 Day, we celebrate how 2-1-1 makes help happen in New Jersey.

    In 2016 NJ 2-1-1 connected 363,627 people with services they might otherwise have missed. NJ 2-1-1 community resource specialists answered 155,737 calls for assistance. Another 5,835 calls were forwarded directly to state hotlines. Our website received 202,055 visitors.

    Our partnerships with United Ways across New Jersey, as well as state and local government help connect people in-need with existing services and programs. In 2016 our partnerships and special initiatives took us above and beyond traditional information and referral and enabled us to make help happen. See our Year in Review.

    Since 2005 NJ 2-1-1 has been providing residents of our state with connections to essential resources that often move callers in crisis from despair to hope. “While many of the calls we receive come from families who are looking for solutions to the most basic of needs like utility assistance, food and affordable housing,” states NJ 2-1-1 board president Gina Plotino, “we answer calls for many
    other things too, such as mental health counseling, childcare or transportation. Call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Call 2-1-1 for everything else.” With a resource database of nearly 3,000 agencies and more than 10,000 programs and services, NJ 2-1-1 is the easiest place to start to find a solution to any problem relating to health and human service needs.

    Source: A February 10, 2017 email titled, “The Easiest Place to Start” from the Executive Director of the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership.