Red tape follows move from Kentucky
Several months ago, a woman contacted the Ombudsman for assistance with her benefits from the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program. Through this program, low-income individuals may receive assistance to have their Social Security Part B premium paid by the State of Ohio Medicaid Program.
Participation in this program requires approval and processing time from both the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Social Security Administration. When individuals are working with two systems, processing can take several months.
The woman moved from Kentucky to Montgomery County in January and had applied for the benefit she received while in Kentucky to continue in Ohio. The premiums continued to be deducted from her Social Security retirement, and she wanted to know if something could be done to help her obtain the benefit. Each time she contacted staff at the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services, she was told that the delay was because Ohio was waiting on documentation from Kentucky.
The Ombudsman contacted the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services to inquire about the woman’s benefit. The supervisor responded that the woman’s Qualified Medicare Beneficiary benefit had been approved, and the approval was sent to the Social Security Administration. However, the Social Security Administration had not yet activated the benefit. The supervisor reported that it can take 60 days or more for the Social Security Administration to process the change.
The Ombudsman then contacted the Social Security Administration on the woman’s behalf. One month later, the benefit was reinstated by the State of Ohio and the Social Security Administration.
THE OMBUDSMAN column, a production of the Joint Office of Citizens’ Complaints, summarizes selected problems that citizens have had with government and social services, utilities, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to 11 West Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or telephone (937) 2234613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@daytonombudsman.org or our website at www.daytonombudsman.org.