A Guide to Housing Resources For the Elderly In Philadelphia

DEFINITIONS OF TERMST T 1-13
SECTION 8 EXISTING RENTAL ASSISTANCE
A Federal program that provides rental assistance to low-income families who are unable to afford market rents.
Assistance may be in the form of vouchers or certificates.
SECTION 8 HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM
Allows low-income families who qualify for Section 8 rental assistance to use their certificates or vouchers to pay
for homeownership costs under a mortgage.
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY (SNF)
A nursing facility that delivers skilled, intermediate, and custodial care. Registered nurses provide 24-hour nursing
services that must be prescribed by a physician. These facilities are licensed by each state.
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT OF 1935
TITLE II - Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits (OASDI). Enacted in 1935, Social
Security replaces a portion of earned income lost as a result of a person's retirement, disability, or death. Monthly
benefits are paid as a matter of earned right to workers who gain insured status and to their eligible spouses, children,
and survivors. Retirement benefits can begin at age 62 and are payable for life. Disability benefits are payable to
those insured workers who meet the act's definition of disability.
TITLE XVI - Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI). The SSI program was
enacted as part of the 1971 Social Security amendments. It replaced the federal-state public assistance programs to the
aged, blind, and disabled, which the states had administered. The program is now federally administered and provides
a supplemental public assistance payment to those who are eligible. States have the option of increasing the amount of
the supplement at their expense. In many cases, SSI recipients are automatically eligible for other forms of assistance
such as Medicaid, food stamps, and social services.
TITLE XVIII - Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled (Medicare). The Medicare program was enacted in
1965, providing health insurance coverage for persons age 65 or older, some disabled persons under age 65, and
persons who have end-stage renal disease. The program consists of three parts:
• Part A, Hospital Insurance (HI) provides basic protection against the costs of hospital and related post-hospital
care, home health services, and hospice care
• Part B, Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI is a voluntary program for which enrollees in Part A must pay
80 percent of reasonable charges for medical and related health services and supplies furnished by physicians
(or others in connection with physicians' services). Generally, it does not pay for out-of-hospital prescription
drugs, glasses, hearing aids, or immunizations.
• Part D, Prescription Drug Coverage is a voluntary program in which enrollees pay a premium receive for
prescription drug coverage. Coverage varies depending on the plans offered.
The program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). See www.medicare.gov.
TITLE XIX - Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid). This program also became law in 1965. It provides
medical assistance for certain low-income individuals and families. It is financed jointly by state and federal funds
and administered by the individual states within broad federal guidelines. Generally, all who qualify for public
assistance under federally funded categories (aged, blind, disabled, and families with dependent children) are eligible
for Medicaid. Others may qualify at a state's option. For the low-income elderly, Medicaid provides a particularly
important provision, payment of nursing home care. All states except Arizona currently have Medicaid programs.
Programs vary from state to state.