AARP Services include: Driver Safety, Grandparent Information Center, Grief and Loss, Tax Aide Program and Insurance

Driver Safety Program

Cars have changed. So have traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads we drive on every day. Brush up on your driving skills to stay safe!  Call 888-687-2277 for information about driver safety program in our area.

Follow the prompts and be ready to give your 5-digit postal zip code. A local volunteer will call you back within 3-5 business days to help you locate the course nearest you.  Or, visit the Web site for more information and resources, including safety tips, advice on when to curtail or stop driving, and the latest vehicle safety features.

Caregiving Resource Center

Connect with other caregivers, get information on developing a care plan and a care team, find care providers and connect with community resources.  Click here to visit AARP's Caregiving Resource Center.

Grandparents Information Center

AARP's Friends and Family Web site is full of information grandparents will be interested in - whether they are their grandchild's full-time caregiver or a part-time babysitter.

• GrandFacts: National and state fact sheets listing services, programs, benefits, laws and policies for grandparents raising children.

• GrandFamilies Guide: Information, tips and tools for grandparents raising grandchildren.

• AARP Foundation GrandCare Support Locator: The GrandCare Support Locator is a service of the AARP Foundation. It connects grandparents with national, state and local groups, programs, resources and services that support grandparents or other relative caregivers as well as grandparents facing visitation issues.

• Join an online support group for grandparents raising grandchildren.

AARP Ohio

http://www.aarp.org/states/oh/
866-389-5653
ohaarp@aarp.org

Other helpful resources:

Grief and Loss: tips, resources and advice on how to cope during this difficult part of life.

Tax Aide Program:  the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service.

Insurance: Information and resources on topics from long-term care insurance to health insurance and Medicare.

Internet safety: Information and resources on internet safety

About Benefits CheckUp

Many older people need help paying for prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other basic needs. Ironically, millions of older Americans especially those with limited incomes are eligible for but not receiving benefits from existing federal, state and local programs. Ranging from heating and energy assistance to prescription savings programs to income supplements, there are many public programs available to seniors in need if they only knew about them and how to apply for them.

Developed and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation`s most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources.

BenefitsCheckUp includes more than 2,000 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, such as:

• Prescription drugs
• Nutrition (including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP)/Food Stamps)
• Energy assistance
• Financial
• Legal
• Health care
• Social Security
• Housing
• In-home services
• Tax relief
• Transportation
• Educational assistance
• Employment
• Volunteer services

Since 2001, millions of people have used BenefitsCheckUp to find benefits programs that help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, rent, utilities, and other needs.

Hamilton County Helping Working Families website helps connect families to resources to help with tough economic times. Use this website to help save money, help with prescription drugs cost, child care, and help connect you to job opportunities and job training.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.

VITA
The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $52,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations.

TCE
The TCE Program offers free tax help for all with priority assistance to people who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement issues unique to seniors. IRS-certified volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.

Click here for more information about these programs.

For additional information on taxes, see the links below

• IRS Tax Publications for Older Americans
• Tax Topics for Seniors and Retirees
• Publication 524, Credit for Elderly or Disabled
• IRS: Frequently Asked Questions for Seniors
• IRS: Tax Preparation Tips for Seniors

Tax Assistance Services Available

Tax Assistance Available

The mission of SuCasa is to serve Hispanics residing in Cincinnati. Services provided by SuCasa include:

• Job Referral and Job Fairs. 
• Housing Assistance and Referrals.
• Enroll Children in School and Daycare.
• Promote GED Program.
• English and Spanish Classes.
• Translation Services.
• Income Tax Preparation Services.
• Medical Referrals and Health Fairs.
• Legal Referrals.
• Alcoholics Anonymous in Spanish.
• Host and Promote Athletic Teams

Many of us are forced to make tough decisions every day about paying bills, buying food, accessing medical care, and stretching our household budgets. The Ohio Benefit Bank is designed to make it simpler for Ohioans to connect with programs and resources that can make those decisions a little bit easier. From any computer with Internet access, you can use the online service to complete applications for programs like food assistance, child care assistance, health coverage, and much more.

The Cincinnati Public Library provides a variety of services for people with special needs through its Outreach Services Department. 

Special services of interest to seniors or people with disabilities, may include:

Books to Your Door

The department provides monthly deliveries of library materials to Hamilton County nursing homes, assisted living facilities, correctional facilities, and other congregate living locations. The department supplies deposit collections for residents to share, activity director collections, and books for individuals. Residents may make special requests or have Outreach Services staff select materials for them based on their reading interests.

Books by Mail

Outreach Services mails library materials to individuals in Hamilton County living in their own homes or apartments who are unable to visit the library due to an illness or disability. Homebound residents should contact the department for additional information and to request a questionnaire they can fill out detailing their interests.

Senior Programs

The department provides programming for seniors at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It also provides materials in a variety of formats for senior book clubs.

Materials for Nursing Home Activity Directors

Bifolkal program kits, videos, music, craft books, trivia, poetry, pictorials, and professional literature. Contact the department for a checklist of available materials. 

The Outreach Services Department can be reached at 513-369-6963.

The Library's Web site also has a special section dedicated to library users age 55 and older: Fifty-five +.
 

Talking Books
Free recorded books, magazines and playback equipment to eligible blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, and reading disabled Ohio residents

Free Tax Assistance

The Library offers free tax assistance from American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) volunteers. The AARP service takes place on Fridays from 9:00 a.m.--3:00 p.m. from January 27 --April 13 in Room 2A of the Main Library. The service is for taxpayers 50 and over. For these taxpayers, volunteers will also assist in State of Ohio returns. Returns prepared by AARP volunteeers are filed electronically.

AARP tax assistance is by appointment only. For details or to schedule an appointment, contact the Information and Reference Department at 513-369-6900. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Urban League of Greater Cincinnati`s mission is to eliminate the barriers of racism and level the playing field for all African Americans and others at risk by promoting their economic self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship through effective leadership in the areas of comprehensive employment, youth and family development, and advocacy.

Individuals with income less than $35,000/year can receive volunteer assistance in preparing tax return. To locate the nearest volunteer site call United Way 211