Woman’s benefits finally reinstated

Several months ago a woman contacted the Ombudsman for assistance with her benefits from the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB). 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 also the Social Security Administration. When individuals are working with two systems, processing can take a number of months.

The woman had moved from Texas to Montgomery County, Ohio last January, and had applied for the benefit she received while in Texas 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 Texas.

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 has been 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 benefit.

The Ombudsman contacted the Social Security Administration on the woman’s behalf. Two months later, the woman’s 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 services, schools and nursing homes in the Dayton area. Contact the Ombudsman by writing to the Beerman Building, 11 W. Monument Avenue, Suite 606, Dayton 45402, or telephone (937) 223-4613, or by electronic mail at ombudsman@dayton-ombudsman.org or like us on Facebook at “Dayton Ombudsman Office.”

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