New York Elderly Jews Reported Victims of Tangles in SSI Implementation By BEN GALLOB inequities in the new laws that have emerged since im- plementation started. But, according to the New York Metropolitan Coordinat- ing Council on Jewish Pover- ty and the Jewish Association for Services to the Aged (JASA), many elderly Jews are suffering additional in- equities stemming from their lifestyles as Jews. Reports on the inequities and recommendations to cor- rect them were made by Rabbi Jack Simha Cohen, the coordinating council execu- tive director, and Bernard Warach, the JASA executive director, in testimony at a public hearing in June of the New York State As- sembly standing committee on social services. Rabbi Cohen cited for the state committee problems un- covered during a 10-week SSI Outreach Alert conducted by the coordinating council to find Jews eligible for SSI benefits and to inform them on procedures to get those benefits. In June, the Community Council of Greater New York, which sponsored and coordi- nated the SSI Alert, in which JASA, the coordinating coun- cil and other Jewish organi- zations participated, reported that many of the estimated 100,000 elderly New York A step Warach proposed ish Telegraphic Agency that it or because they are un- Jews eligible for SSI aid that Congress take, was en- the transition from welfare able to apply, are still strug- Elderly Jews in New York might not be aware of their actment of an increase in the to SSI had probably affected gling with Medicaid prob- basic federal level of SSI fewer elderly Jews than non- lems, as well as the food City, like their non-Jewish eligibility. grants and a law for pass- Jews because Jews have al- stamp loss. Warach called contemporaries, have been The state committee was through of federal SSI cost- ways resisted the "stigma" "the Medicaid mess' the the victims of bureaucratic told about difficulties en- of-living increases without of welfare. However, many "most serious problem of tangles in the implementation countered by elderly Jews in penalty to state supplement- elderly Jews do apply for all." of the new federal Supple- initially applying for SSI and ing federal SSI. He proposed food stamps and for Medi- mentary Security Income then in receiving SSI checks legislation to provide eligi- caid. As SSI beneficiaries, (SSI) program, as well as of regularly and promptly for bility for food stamps to all they lost the food stamps, a the correct amounts; lack of SSI recipients and for a per- significant factor in their provisions for funds to cover manent emergency system budgets. emergencies during the tran- for non-receipt of checks, un- Those who had to wait for sition from welfare to SSI, derpayment of grants, lost or and problems of receiving stolen checks and interim months because of delays in Medicaid coverage, home- aid. He also said there should certification for SSI benefits, maker aid and other social be legislation enabling the as well as those still await- Americana Complex 1, 2, 3, 4 services; inadequate SSI ben- state to provide some flexi- ing certification, , have had Greenfield Rd., N. of 9 Mile 559-2730 efits to cover loss of food bility for unusual living costs problems in getting Medicaid Put your money where your stamps, as well as rent in- and special requirements, coverage during the interim. Wed. MATINEES ALL heart is — Presumably those elderly THEATERS-1 Show only creases; and "unrealistic" without the states having to IN AMERICA at 1:15—$1 regulations on the amounts bear the whole burden of Jews who are qualified for SSI but who have not ap- of permissable assets. such costs. U. AMERICANA I plied either because they Both Warach and Rabbi "FOR PETE'S SAKE" (PG) Rabbi Cohen told the Jew- have not been informed about Cohen told the committee AMERICANA II that the state had the respon- "THE STING" (PG) sibility to supplement the fed- eral effort by providing em- AMERICANA III ergency payments for non-re- "BUSTER AND BILLIE" (R) curring expenses, particular- AMERICANA IV ly when such problems were "BLAZING SADDLES" (R) caused by inadequacies in the administration of SSI. 12 Mile-Coolidge BERKLEY LI 2-0330 Warach reported that JASA Open at 7:00. Robert Redford was frequently called on and Paul Newman in "BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE "even by SSI to help pre- KID," at 7:15 and 9:15. vent evictions for nonpay- Saturday evening, open at 7:15. ment of rent, to provide em- "BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID." PG. ergency funds for food for a At 7:40 and 9:35. Sunday, open period, to pay the utility bill, at 1:30. "BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID" at 1:45, because the Department of 3:45. 5:40, 7:35 and 9:30. Social Services" of New York City "has no mandate to help." Rabbi Cohen recommended hiring of additional staff by NOTHING SHORT OF A MASTERPIECE! Social Security offices, which STUNNING! SLEEPER HIT OF THE YEAR! administer SSI, including IT HAS TEN TIMES THE ENERGY OF caseworkers able to speak Yiddish and German for ap- MOST CONTEMPORARY FILMS!" plicants unfamiliar with En- —Rex Reed, N. Y. Daily News glish. He also proposed ad- "FUNNY, FANTASTIC AND OFTEN ditional staff workers to vis- it the homebound. MOVING! FRANTIC PACE!" —Vincent Canby, New York Times Persons who automatically lost their food stamps when removed from welfare when "A STUNNING BRAVURA PERFORMANCE the SSI act took effect should BY RICHARD DREYFUSS!" be compensated by the state, —Paul D. Zimmerman, Newsweek Rabbi Cohen said, adding that the state should supple-. "A STUNNING SAGA!" —Gene Shalit. NBC-TV ment federal measures to cover escalating .food costs. "A LIVELY, THOROUGHLY ENGROSSING Rabbi Cohen also proposed MOTION PICTURE WELL WORTH that cost-of-living increases SEEING!" —Aaron Schindler. Family Circle in Social Security payments be disregarded in calculating "A SIMPLY STUNNING PORTRAIT BY SSI benefits, as did Warach. RICHARD DREYFUSS, WHO DID SO WELL Currently, such increases are figured as part of the indi- IN 'AMERICAN GRAFFITI'!" vidual's total income and can —Judith Crist, New York Magazine cost him or her SSI eligi- "A FINE, FULL-TEXTURED bility. FILM! RANGES FROM He also proposed that the minimum level of income for HILARITY TO SSI eligibility be increased POIGNANCE TO and that the state urge the PATHOS!" Congress to increase the —Kevin Sanders. ABC-TV amount and kind of assets an SSI applicant would be entitled to have. He proposed gearing SSI benefits to the ATICOKOTCOOMPTF ■ im cost of living "just as wel- TIM APPIMENTIGROINIP OF fare and Social Security pro- grams are structured." s,orrp-.3 IttelleARD DREYFUSSMKHa INE LANCTor Warach said another area RANDY QUAID JOSEPH m5E/MN DENI4OLM ELOOT r JOE SILVER where JASA workers "have and %SACK WARDEN a s'IMAX" uncovered r e a 1 injustice b, TED KOTCHEFIrp,...-.. a ./06194 KEMENY since the institution of SSI, b, MORDECAI RICHLER relates to the previously al- p, LIONIEL CHETWYND N.. GERALD SCHNEIDER lotted $25 a month spending More than 6,000 guests attended the seventh annual communal Bar Mitzva fete money provided to residents in Kfar Chabad, the Lubavitcher village near Tel Aviv, for 63 boys orphaned by ■ of domiciliary homes, health- the Six-Day War, the subsequent hostilities and Yom Kippur War. These celebrations related facilities and nursing were initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. The boys :SO44 homes." He said in most of were received by President and Mrs. Ephraim Katzir, top photo, in Jerusalem. wets, — these institutions such allow- Premier Yitzhak Rabin addressed the crowd, right center, and recounted his wow imov STARTS WED. AUG. 21st! Waif, ai m ances were no longer being visit to the Rebbe while in the United States as ambassador, when the Rebbe spoke Aim* wfwerse 1,0 • made available to residents of the uniqueness of the Jewish people its being a nation which dwells alone. because the institutions often Rabin said that Israel must be built on the firm foundations of Judaism. Young became "the representative Shalom Avner, left center, represented the boys in thanking the Rebbe for thinking Kercheval at Warren & Wayne Road BIRMINGHAM payees" and keep the allow- of them. Bottom, some of the Bar Mitzva boys on the shoulders of young dancing GA. 5-7700 Fisher Rd. TU. 5.7010 645-0777 ances "completely for them- Chabadniks. The boys were presented with numerous gifts, and a pair of tefilin THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS for each from the Rebbe. Friday, August 16, 1974-27 selve." (Copyright 1974, JTA, Inc.) MOVIE GUIDE "A MASTERPIECE! A Poe onno.rit Reit.° se In wro,00l C,nemeda Clni , ll,d Pr ese• ■ ••• IMODIVIr KRAVITZ — QV:A I leo. 't, b, PA,,,Au[tAll PAokfA, ./ur IFlif olo!!!!! • ! , I PUNCH & JUDY QUO YAWS STUDIO 4 enig S. SAVINGS BONDS, NEW FREEDOM SHARES Mass Ear Miyzva for Sons of Heroes miff