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Provides application assistance to individuals and families wanting to apply for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. Once applications are complete we forward the applications to local districts and/or health plans for processing. Visit the website for locations. (631)656-9783

Provides financial assistance to purchase necessary prescription drugs for people who would be in an emergency situation without assistance. Also included are programs that reimburse individuals for their prescription expenses, usually on an annual basis. Prescription expense assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

There are two types of Temporary Assistance available to families in Yates County: Family Assistance and Safety Net Assistance. Temporary Assistance Services Include: Temporary Assistance (temporary financial assistance for individuals and families), Food Stamps (supplemental nutrition assistance program to help families and individuals purchase food), HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), WRAP (Weatherization Referral and Packaging), Wheels to Work Program, BILT (Building Independence for Long Term), Fraud Investigation, Medicaid (low and no cost medical insurance), Employment Programs, Managed Care, Day Care Subsidies, Medical Transportation, Child Support Enforcement (assistance for custodial parents to obtain financial and medical support) and Support Collection Unit.

The Critical Needs Program at the Watertown Urban Mission provides emergency assistance to individuals and families in need. It is a safety net in our community to help fill in the gaps for struggling individuals and families. If you are in a difficult spot in your life and don’t know where else to turn, we may be able to help you, by advocating for you or providing you with some simple items to get you through.

In some cases and dependent on the availability of funding and supplies, Critical Needs can help provide for basic needs through vouchers to the store, gas vouchers for a medical appointment, baby formula for an overstretched family, or even help with prescription.

This program depends heavily on the generosity of donors and the availability of items in our Impossible Dream Thrift Store. Our client advocate will work with a person to address their immediate need and offer assistance to find ways to become self-sustaining.

The Critical Needs Program provides help for more than 4,200 households and more than 200 homeless neighbors in our community every year. About 25 percent of the people who come to the Critical Needs Coordinator have never been to the Mission, but the overall demand remains fairly constant.

This shows that many of the people who are served at the Watertown Urban Mission get the help they need to get back on track.

The Critical Needs Program handles special needs drives as well—Backpacks & School Supplies, Winter Coats, Toys for Tots, and more. We collect items all year round to ensure we can help students start the year right, help others stay warm and for many kids, make Christmas more enjoyable.

The Critical Needs Program is a walk-in service. All you have to do to get help is come to the Mission, sign in and once the program coordinator is available, you will be seen. The Critical Needs Program is designed to help you in any way possible when you're facing a difficult situation. Sometimes the help you need isn't available at the Mission, but your Critical Needs coordinator is an advocate for you to the programs in the community that may be able to help.

Otherwise, if help can be given directly, we will assist you. If you need clothing, we can give you a voucher to the Impossible Dream. If you need other household items, the same. Just be honest and open about your situation. We cannot give direct financial assistance, but we can be creative in finding ways to meet your needs so that you can get back on your feet.

Free accurate, objective, and up-to-date information and counseling from expert aging specialists on Medicare, private health insurance, and health insurance related topics.

program provides unbiased information, education, and counseling regarding Medicare (including Part D), New York State EPIC, Long Term Care insurance, and other insurance issues

Explore health care options
Help seniors decide what is really needed (for example: a retirement plan, a Medigap plan, a Medicare HMO) Help seniors understand long-term care policies and the New York Partnership for Long-term care.
Determine if you qualify for special programs that pay for Medicare deductibles, co-payments, and Part B premiums. Determine if you qualify for EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage), the New York State program to help pay for prescription drugs Help seniors appeal an insurance denial for medical claims.

•Oral Hygiene and Instruction

•Dental Exams

•X-Rays

•Amalgams/Composites (Fillings)

•Routine Extractions

•Root Canals

•Crowns, Bridges, and Dentures

•Teledental Services

Medicaid Buy In For The Working With Disabilities (MBI-WPD) provides Medicaid coverage for the client who is working and also has a disability, either medical or mental health related. Clients between the ages of 16 and 64 who are working and paying income tax are eligible to apply for this program. An applicant can have up to $10,000 in resources and an income of 250% of the federal poverty level and be eligible for the MBI program.