A SMCAA staff member was working with a client in Van Buren County to assist her with her electric bill. During the application process, SMCAA noticed the client's Social Security was very low. The intake worker asked the client if she had ever applied for SSI as she was eligible. The client responded that no one had ever mentioned SSI to her.
A few weeks later the client called SMCAA to thank the staff member for the advice to apply for SSI. She is now receiving SSI and can pay her monthly rent expense without asking her daughter for help. The client said how much she appreciates SMCAA and all the help she gets, as she is also in the CSFP senior commodity program.