No senior benefit for more than six months: Our state government is so poorly run that voters should consider replacing at least 90% of those in charge. All they seem to do is stomp out one fire after another. Everyone knew that the special federal funding during the COVID-19 era would run out, but there seemed to be no thinking forward to have a plan once it did.
As is almost always the case, it is residents at the bottom of the economic ladder who are most profoundly affected by this modus operandi. We are well aware of the horrible backlog in the SNAP program that has so many individuals and families waiting months and months for their food stamps. Other systems are being overwhelmed, because the state did not anticipate the end of COVID-19 funding and the need for more trainedstaff at the Department of Public Assistance. We are not so well informed, though, on how this lack
of forward thinking is affecting low-income elders in our communities. My personal story is an example of how thousands of elders are struggling to cope.
After a lifetime of hard work, my monthly social security check is still pretty low. So low, in fact, that I qualify for most federal and state assistance programs.
I live in HUD housing, where my income is based on 30% of my income, and I qualify for the Alaska Senior Benefits Program at the $175 per month level.
Due to the same backlog that is delaying food stamps for months, I have not received my senior benefit since last October; that is six months and counting.
This causes much hardship and further limits my ability to get out and about, dedicate funds to social enrichment and meet other day-to-day needs. Another result is that I may have to cancel my Medicare Supplement policy. Medicare pays only 80% of covered charges, and the patient is responsible for the other 20%. When medical needs are high, this can be a substantial sum. If I have to drop my supplemental policy, I will face a huge decline in my quality of life due to the need for limiting medical support.
A well-run government is like a well-run family or corporation. Competent leadership works to assure that all members of the community, family or workforce get their needs met.
In addition, they anticipate future needs and challenges and have a well-laid plan for addressing them. I am not seeing that level of competence in Alaska, nor in our vast nation. Everything seems to be in decline except the mechanisms that create a super-wealthy class of people. I recall the 1960s and, “There’s a new world coming and it’s just around the end… Coming in peace; coming in joy; coming in love!”
Whatever happened to that dream?
— Mary G. Garrett
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.