Action Plan for Assistance for Paulding, Ga
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This document provides steps for residents of Paulding County, GA to find assistance. It outlines how to apply for unemployment benefits, public assistance programs, affordable healthcare options, and help with bills and finances. Contact information is given for agencies that provide food, healthcare, utility payment assistance, and other services for those in need.
Action Plan for Assistance for Paulding, Ga
- 1. Action Plan in Finding Assistance for Residents of Paulding County, GA There are many ways to get assistance within your county. The following steps will explain how to find the assistance you qualify for from public agencies as well as where to obtain assistance through organizations in your community. Step 1 – If you are out of work/lost your job – contact the Georgia Department of Labor to find out your eligibility to file for unemployment. http://www.dol.state.ga.us/ - Georgia http://www.dol.gov/ - Federal You can apply at any Unemployment Office – be sure to bring these documents: • Your social security number. A claim cannot be filed without a social security number. • Employer-issued separation letter or notice, if one was provided. • Names and addresses of all employers for the last 18 months and the dates worked for each. • Proof of immigration status if not a U.S. citizen. • Personal check with account number and bank routing number if you want benefits deposited directly into to a checking or savings account. • Claims are effective on the date they are filed and are not retroactive to the last day worked. You may be eligible for insurance coverage from your previous employer via COBRA. Currently there is a reduction in Premium program available: (play pays approx 65% of the premium for up to 15 months) – to learn more: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premiumreductionEE.html Step 1 – Unemployment Notes: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
- 2. Step 2 – Apply for public assistance. 1. To apply for all public assistance programs to include Medicaid, Food Stamps, Childcare Assistance, WIC, and/or TANF – go to: http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/DHR-DFCS/DHR- DFCS_Food_Stamps/English.pdf (download application form on this webpage and take with you to the DFCS office in your area) Click Here to find your local DFCS office To apply online for food stamps only go to: dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/ Click on the Compass icon (Common Point of Access to Social Services) and apply To apply for programs in Paulding County – download application above, complete and take to office: Paulding County DFCS 1387 Industrial Blvd N. P. O. Box 168 Dallas, Georgia 30132-0168 (770) 443-7810 FAX (770) 443-7820 Be sure to call ahead of time to see if you need an appointment at your DFCS office to apply for assistance. When you apply take the following: ***Very important: Take a Picture ID, Social Security card for all people in household, Green Card/immigration papers Copy of bills – mortgage, utilities, car payments, insurance, child care bills, etc. Proof of income for household (both spouses if married) – pay stubs for at least a month, child support payments, alimony payments, etc.**** Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – Based on very low or no income for the household Food Stamps – You may qualify even if employed – based on total income for household and expenses Childcare Assistance – CAPS Program Medicaid – Insurance for uninsured children – based on income (if you do not qualify for Medicaid ask about Peachcare) WIC – Food program for children under 4 years old For more info: www.fns.usda.gov/wic 2. Health Department – 770-443-7881 451 Jimmy Campbell Parkway Dallas, GA 30132 Hours: M&W 8-5, Tu 9-5, Th 8-7, Fr 8-2 Apply for WIC – a free food program for low-income pregnant women, mothers with babies, and children up to age 5. Also offers immunizations, screenings for hearing, vision, & dental, and other services. For more info: www.fns.usda.gov/wic
- 3. 3. Paulding County Collaborative 770-443-1660 http://www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/paulding To access a complete list of agencies in Paulding for assistance: Paulding County Resource Directory also Right from the Start Medicaid – 770-443-7838 445 Paulding Lane Dallas, GA 30132 Referrals for service – also for Right from the Start Medicaid include: Medicaid eligibility determined for pregnant women and children under 19 yrs; Georgia Partnership for Caring Program (see more info under Step 2), and Peachcare (see more info under Step 2). Help with diapers, formula, and children’s clothes. For more Information: www.state.ga.us/departments/dhr/facright.html 4. Call 211 or http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/ United Way has lists of resources for assistance – check with them to see what other assistance is available in your area of need. 5. Free School Lunch - if you have children in Public schools – obtain a application from your school or cafeteria manager to apply for the free lunch program. If you are on food stamps – you should automatically qualify for the free lunch program. (Be sure to fill in your case number on the form to expedite) To learn more: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/ Step 2 – Public Assistance Notes: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
- 4. Step 3 –Finances/Bills/Budget It is very important to contact your creditors and utility companies BEFORE you get behind on payments. They may work out partial payment arrangements with you if you are proactive and contact them before you become delinquent. 1. Call your mortgage company and ask if one payment can be added to the end of the mortgage, if you can pay interest only payments for a specified time, or if they will spread any past due amounts over the next few months. You can also ask about a Forebearance or Loan Modification. If they will not work with you to come up with a workable solution, contact NACA – www.naca.org and apply for the Home Save program. 2. Contact your bank concerning any loans you have – and ask if a payment can be added to the end of the loan – if a grace period can be extended – or if a lower payment can be made until you are able to make full payments. 3. Contact Utility Companies BEFORE they become overdue and see if a payment plan can be arranged. Also inquire about agencies that might assist you in paying your bill. 4. Pay your bills with cash on hand – you can get assistance for food easier than for money. 5. Trim excess expenses – go to standard cable, basic phone services, free or low-cost internet services, and basic cell phone services or disconnect until you can afford it. 6. Look into a loan on your 401K if necessary. 7. Use the online budget calculator at http://www.crown.org/Tools/budgetguide.asp - good baseline for developing a budget. 8. Contact Consumer Credit Counseling Service at 404-527-7630 – they will work with your creditors and work out payment arrangements. Note: The agencies below that will assist you with rent, utilities, etc. – however they may only cover a bill for 1 month. Try to contact at the beginning of the month – funds are usually dispersed then. 9. Contact Helping Hands of Paulding County – 770-443-1230 10. CAYA (Come as You Are) Reconciliation Ministries - 678-363-7366 Financial assistance toward rent, gas, and other utility bills. People can make their requests over the phone. * FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS ONE-TIME DEAL PER YEAR. 11. Contact St. Vincent De Paul Society – 770-443-1533 12. Tallatoona Paulding Human Resource Dev Center – 770-445-4171 13. Many agencies are low on funds – contact all local churches and speak to their outreach ministry. Explain your situation – accept any amount offered and that they can make checks out to your lender/complex, utility company, etc. No matter the amount they can give – accept and put towards the bills. Step 3 – Bills Notes: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
- 5. Step 4 – HealthCare and Prescription Coverage If you have lost your job – check with the benefits department from your last employer to find out the cost to continue your health insurance under Cobra (see link in Step 1). You can usually extend your health insurance for 2 years – however if you can not afford the premium – you can contact the agencies below to apply for coverage. If you are employed but uninsured – contact the agencies below to see if you and your family qualify for healthcare programs. 1. Call Powerline at 770-451-5501 or 800-822-2539. or www.hmhbga.org/powerline/ Georgia's only toll-free hotline dedicated to providing Medicaid approved healthcare referrals and information for free or low-cost healthcare and public health programs (for men, women, and children). (referral information in English and Spanish) 2. Insurance Coverage - Adults If you have a doctor and have lost insurance coverage, check with their office to see if they extend a cash pay option for visits. If you are not eligible for public health coverage programs (Medicare or Medicaid) nor have any private health care insurance - and total income for the applicant’s family is at or below poverty level – you may qualify for assistance with a reduced fee or free doctors visit and free medications (not all prescriptions) through the Georgia Partnership for Caring Foundation. You can call 1-800-809-7276 to get a local phone number to contact a Right from the Start Medicaid (RSM) Outreach Project worker. For more information: www.gacares.org 3. Insurance Coverage – Children - (if the children do not qualify for Medicaid) Low Cost HealthCare offered to uninsured Children, There is no cost for children under age six. Currently, the cost per month for PeachCare for Kids™ coverage is $10 to $35 for one child and a maximum of $70 for two or more children living in the same household. Peachcare will cover all medical, dental, prescriptions, and optical– contact PeachCare – 877- GA-PEACH (do ASAP – takes about 2 months to activate coverage). Once you receive your cards – contact your primary care provider for your children – fill out paperwork and submit to get a sticker for your card. Your child will not be covered unless you do this step! For more information: www.peachcare.org – apply online! 4. Prescription Coverage TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON PRESCRIPTIONS Ask your physician’s office if there are any samples available. Ask your physician if you can substitute a generic drug for the brand name. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a less expensive substitute, then check with your physician to make sure the substitutions are appropriate for you. Shop around at different drug stores for the best price. Be sure the pharmacist knows all the medications you are taking including any over the counter medications.
- 6. Find out how long you will have to take the prescribed medication so you do not end up with more of the medication than you may need. Ask if your pharmacist is willing to match a lower price offered by another pharmacy/drugstore. Ask your pharmacist about senior discounts. You may be able to purchase less than the full prescription, if you are only able to buy a portion of the medication at a time. Discuss this with your pharmacist. If you/or your spouse have been in the military, you may be able to get your medications at lower cost. Contact the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System to update your address at 1-800-538-9552. Tricare is the Pharmacy program for the military and can be reached at 1-800-903-4680. You may also contact the Atlanta VA at 404-321-6111. MANUFACTURERS’ AND STORE DRUG DISCOUNTS Call for further information or check their websites to ask about specific drug coverage on these programs. • Publix.com - 14 day supply of select antibiotics for FREE • Walmart.com - 30 day supply of select generic drugs for $4 • Target.com - 30 day supply of select generic drugs for $4 • Kmart.com - 3 month supply of select generic drugs for $15 • Pharmacy Discount Network - Get a free pharmacy savings card that you can use instantly and start saving up to 75% on thousands of prescription drugs. • pparx.org - find the RX program for your state • Eli Lilly - With the "LillyAnswers" discount card, low-income seniors can get a 30-day supply of Lilly retail drugs such as Prozac and Vista, an osteoporosis drug for just $12 a month. To qualify for the card, seniors must have income of less than $18,000 a year as singles or $24,000 as couples. The card will be honored at CVS, Longs and Wal-Mart pharmacies. Call 1-877-RX-LILLY to apply. • GlaxoSmithKline - GSK is starting the "Orange Card" program, which gives elderly people who qualify 25 percent off their prescriptions. You must be 65 or older and have annual incomes of at or less than $26,000 for individuals or $35,000 for a couple. Check back to this site for updates on how to register. To read an article about the GSK plan, click here. • Together Rx Card: - Call 1-800-865-7211 for more information. Receive 20% - 40% savings on select drugs. Several drug companies participate: Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis. Annual Income Below: $28,000/Individual or $38,000/Couple. • Phizer – savings programs http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Find/FindAll.aspx
- 7. • Rxaminer - For a $10 fee, Rxaminer will permit users to enter all current prescriptions and returns a list of available generic or other suggested brands for less money. • The Medicine Program - The prescription discount program is available to those with family incomes ranging from below the national poverty level to $60,000 who don't have health insurance. Call 573-996-7300 and ask for an application. Or, check the Phrma Web site Phrma.org for a list of drug companies. More tips to consider: • Consider online purchases that could typically save 20% to 30%. • Many consumers find very low prices purchasing prescription drugs from Canada. • Are you over age 50? AARP offers discounts on mail-in orders. • Are you a member of a managed care health program? Consider a 90-day supply of your medicine vs. a one-month supply. You'll pay one co- payment vs. three. • Ask if your medication is cheaper in a higher milligram dose. Then, cut the tablet as needed for your proper dose. This method can save up to 75% of the cost. • Always ask if a generic brand of your prescribed medicine is cheaper. Step 4 - Healthcare & Prescription Notes: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
- 8. Step 5 – Food and Clothing Assistance Contact the agencies below – the food is at no cost or you can purchase for a small fee. Community Outreach Church of God in Christ of Hiram http://www.communityoutreachhiramga.org/ 34 Church St. Hiram, GA 30141 (770) 439-5655 $20.00/$10.00/or no donation option Get a wonderful selection of veg, fruit, can & pkg goods, dairy (milk and cheese), meats, bakery items Held Saturdays at 1:00 (encourage you to get there early) Warehouse of Hope, Inc. www.warehouseofhope.org 100 Hunter Road Douglsaville, GA 30134 770-489-0509 The suggested donation to shop is $7.00. Shopping is not based on income, anyone may come once a week and pick up a free box of food without any donation as well. Food Ministry - Hours of Operation (Open to the Public) Tuesday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Wednesday: 9:00 am to 2.00 pm Thursday: 9:00 am to 2.00 pm and 4.30 pm to 8.00 pm Clothing Ministry - Hours of operation (Open to the Public) Tuesday: 9:00 am to 1:30 pm - Wednesday: 9:00 am to 1:30 pm Thursday: 9:00 am to 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm Angel Food Ministries (Douglasville) - $21 for fresh meats, fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, and staple items. 770-942-3121 To find closest location: www.angelfoodministries.org/default.htm Helping Hands of Paulding County 240 Professional Court Dallas, GA 770-443-1230 Help with food, rent, utilities, meds, etc. CAYA (Come as You Are) Reconciliation Ministries 678-363-7366 Give out bread and pastries weekly, groceries once a month, delivery of groceries to people's homes when possible. Clothing Closet. ***PEOPLE CAN CALL FOR PRAYER AND COUNSELING. Bethany Christian Church 3264 Villa Rica Highway Dallas, GA 30157 770-445-3181 Food Pantry is open Thursday 5:00PM to 8:00PM.
- 9. New Beginnings Food Outreach, Inc. 4375 Cobb Pkwy Acworth 770-386-3419 or 770-529-5828 or 770-974-0076 Fridays - 11:00 to 2:00 PM Allatoona Community Clothing & Food Ministry Redemption Baptist Church 4160 New Hope Road (off Glade Road) 770-529-0509 770-974-4454 Food available to needy families Thursday 11AM. St. Vincent De Paul Society – 770-443-1533 680 West Memorial Drive Dallas, GA 30132 Emergency assistance with food, rent, utilities or medicine. Tallatoona Paulding Human Resource Dev Center 329 S. Johnston Street Dallas, GA 30132 770-445-4171 Emergency Utilities, Rent, surplus food, winter energy assistance program, and takes applications for local Head Start and Pre-K program. If a woman is in need of emergency housing - contact: Sheperd’s Rest Ministries Battered Women’s Shelter – 770-443-5213 The shelter provides women and children with emergency housing, emergency transportation, food, and clothing. Also counseling and assists women with employment search. To get assistance with child support - contact Paulding’s Georgia Child Support Enforcement Office 1387 Industrial Blvd N Suite 102 Dallas GA 30132- Phone: 770-443-7841 Fax: 770-443-7888 Customer Service Hotline 1-800-227-7993 For more information: http://www.cse.dhr.state.ga.us/index.html Pregnancy Support – contact Paulding Pregnancy Services, Inc. 1899 Lake Road. Suite 120 Hiram, GA 30141 770-222-6911 Free Pregnancy Tests, On-going counseling, Maternity clothes, Baby Items - For more information: www.pauldingpregnancy.com Step 5 - Notes: _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
- 10. Step 6 – Be sure to make time for fun and relaxation When going through difficult times – it is important to find time to relax and to have fun - it can help you keep a positive attitude. Some great ideas – free or low-cost: 1. Go to your local library and check-out books and videos. There is no charge for checking out videos – pop some popcorn and have a movie night! 2. Look through your paper (online - AJC.com – AccessAtlanta.com) and find free events in your community – concerts – art exhibits – parades – much to do in Metro Atlanta! 3. Contact your counties Parks and Recreation Department and see if they have any free activities for families. 4. The Georgia Parks Department offers events at parks throughout our state. Go to their website for more information: http://www.gastateparks.org// 5. Pack a picnic and go to a favorite spot outdoors for dinner – enjoy a sunset… 6. Go to your Chamber of Commerce and get a guide to your county – make a trip to see historic sites. 7. Take your bike and ride on the Silver Comet Trail – beautiful scenery and good exercise! 8. Go camping – great way for a family to get away and enjoy the outdoors (at one of our state parks – link is above) or even camp in your backyard – make Smore’s - look at the stars… 9. Contact Local Churches and find out what activities they have for members in your family. 10. Go to a local high school ball game –- bring a thermos filled with hot chocolate to a football game – and feel the enthusiasm! 11. A good way to reduce stress – EXERCISE - take a walk – or ride a bike – jog – swim at a city pool… 12. Volunteer – in helping others you will find great reward. 13. Attend a service at a local church. The messages can be very inspiring and can really make a difference in your week. Remember – God loves you – and is there for you during this difficult time. “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to Me and I will give you rest... rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-30 If you have a specific need that is not addressed in this action plan please contact: EMAIL: THELIFEBOAT.INFO@COMCAST.NET