The Community Service Society is looking for retired New Yorkers 55 years old and older for volunteer public benefit counselor gigs.
The Advocacy, Counseling and Entitlement Services Project of the CSS wants volunteers who are dedicated to helping financially disadvantaged New Yorkers with everything from Medicare and Medicaid to SNAP program benefits and housing assistance.
“They have to have research advocacy and computer skills,” said Rebecca Haase, program director of Financial Advocacy for CSS. “We currently have 55 ACES volunteers in 33 programs around New York City.
“Volunteers go through 42 hours of training that are broken up in 14 half-day sessions. And they go through a lot,” continued Haase. “They have homework. There’s a final exam. Most of the time they bond and become friends and enjoy the training.”
According to CSS’ recent “Unheard Third” survey of low-income New Yorkers, half of low-income residents report falling behind on rent, not filling a prescription and not receiving free food. Half of low-income New York City households eligible for food stamps aren’t receiving the benefits. Also, low-income New York residents are three times as likely as higher-income New Yorkers to be without health insurance.
The ACES program receives almost 2,700 applications annually from retired people who want to assist others in accessing programs that could benefit them. Once volunteers are trained they’re placed with partners such as New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, LeFrak Senior Center in Queens, Housing Court Answers in Brooklyn, Trinity Baptist Church in the Bronx or Great Kills Friendship Club on Staten Island. Once there, they help people screen for public benefits eligibility, provide information and referrals, advocate for clients and assist with applications.
“CSS also has an online benefits manual called Benefits Plus,” said Haase. “They can go on to this manual and research.” She said their volunteers have to know their stuff because “benefits programs are extremely complicated.”
Those who are picked to volunteer would be obligated to work at least one day a week for six hours. According to Haase, 42 percent of their volunteers have been there for five years or more.
“The volunteers are amazing,” said Haase. “They are very special people. The most important characteristic is that they want to help financially disadvantaged people.”
Those interested in volunteering should visit cssny.org or contact Haase at 212-614-5482. Volunteers would have to attend a training that begins Oct. 4 of this year.
