Food Stamps / SNAP / LINK Card

Food stamps are now called “SNAP” and a lot more stores take it than you’d think.

I’ve personally confirmed that Walgreens, CVS, Target, Trader Joe’s, Jewel, Mariano’s, Aldi’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods all take LINK. Some 7-11s and dollar stores do as well. Online I’ve seen BJ’s, Sam’s Club, and Costco referenced as accepting LINK. Basically, if the store has a grocery section and takes credit cards, even if it’s not a grocery store (like Target for example), then they probably accept LINK.

Many local non-chain grocery stores also take the LINK card; you’ll just need to walk in or call and ask. Some bakeries and farmer’s markets may as well, so long as they accept credit cards.

In addition, you can use the LINK card to buy pre-made food, so long as it’s not heated. This means that in the deli section, you can use LINK to purchase the food that’s at room temperature or chilled, but not the food under a heat lamp. If you’re ever not sure, ask the manager or a cashier to confirm that the food item will be covered by the LINK card.

In response to a question I was asked, no, you can’t use LINK to buy dog or cat food, not unless you buy human food and feed it to your pets. However, there are free pet food pantries. You can, however, buy baking soda with LINK and use it to freshen kitty litter boxes.

Information on applying for food stamps (Food stamps are now called SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Food stamps (aka SNAP) eligibility calculator
Use this to figure out if you are eligible for food stamps (aka SNAP) and if so, how much you might get.

Information for once you get approved for food stamps (aka SNAP) and are given a LINK card

How does a LINK card work?
Basically, it works like a debit card and looks like one. If you are eligible for food stamps, the card will be reloaded with money every month on a set date, until you are found to not be eligible anymore. This determination is generally made by the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is based on if your earnings, income, economic resources, or living expenses have changed. If you run out of money on your LINK card, then your options are to pay using your own money or put the food item back on the shelf and visit a free food pantry if necessary.

Sliding-Scale Psychiatric and Counseling Services

Update on 3/26/14

With the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), it’s hopefully easier for people to become insured and thus to find affordable psychiatric and counseling services.

The deadline to sign up is March 31st. To be honest, I’m not sure what will happen if you find yourself uninsured after March 31st.

For more details on the Affordable Care Act, please see my post on that subject.

(Last updated 5/14/12)

If you are uninsured or cannot afford your copay for counseling, it’s often helpful to contact universities and hospitals to see if they offer sliding-scale services and to call DBSA or your local NAMI to ask if they can provide you with some suggestions based on your location.

Compared to finding a therapist, it is much more difficult to find a place that offers sliding-scale psychiatric services so that you can see a psychiatrist and get prescription medication. It would be best to start out by calling DBSA or your local NAMI to ask for referrals. If those referrals don’t pan out, you might want to contact the closest City of Chicago Mental Health Center. Please note that due to budget cuts, several locations have been closed. There is a way to see a psychiatrist and get free medications from Stroger Hospital, but it is very time-consuming.

Below are some places that I have found so far. Please call them first to verify that they offer sliding-scale and to ask if their fees have changed. If you know of a resource that isn’t in this list, please feel free to leave a comment or email me.

Please also read my post How to Choose a Therapist.

Adler School of Professional Psychology
Dreikurs Psychological Services Center
65 E. Wacker Place
(312) 327-0959

Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital
938 W Nelson (Wellington Brown)
(773) 296-3220

C4
multiple locations
(773) 761-9000
Lowest is $8

Cathedral Counseling
50 East Washington Street
(312) 252-9500

Catholic Charities
641 W. Lake Street
(312) 655-7725

Chicago Center for Family Health
20 North Wacker Drive
(312) 372-4731

Jewish Child and Family Services
(773) 866-5035
Multiple locations including:
Adult and Family Services
3525 W Peterson Ave, Chicago, IL
773 866 5035

Family Institute at Northwestern University
(847) 773-4300
Multiple locations including one in Loop and one in Evanston
Therapist is a doctoral student
Individual and couples: lowest may be $0

Lakeview Center on Psychotherapy
3322 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 525-3322
DBT group led by doctoral student: lowest is $1
Individual DBT: lowest is $5
Might have other forms of individual and group therapy
*Also has a mental illness support group

Swedish Covenant Hospital
Anderson Pavilion
2751 W Winona Ave. Suite 253
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-8200
Therapist is a doctoral student
Individual and couples: lowest is $0 – $5
Does not offer group

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City of Chicago Mental Health Centers (MHC)

Please call in advance to verify that the location you’re interested in hasn’t been shut down.

Englewood MHC
641 W. 63rd Street
(312) 747-7496
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Greater Grand/MID-South MHC
4314 S Cottage Grove
(312) 747-0036
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Greater Lawn MHC
4150 West 55th Street
(312) 747-1020
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Lawndale MHC
1201 S Campbell Street
(312) 746-5905
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

North River MHC
5801 North Pulaski Road
(312) 744-1906
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Roseland MHC
200 East 115th Street
(312) 747-7320
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

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John H. Stroger Hospital
Fantus Health Center aka Fantus Clinic
(the walk-in clinic at Stroger Hospital)

621 S. Winchester Ave
Chicago, IL 60612
312-864-6221

From a guest editor in 2009:

Stroger is the absolute last-ditch option for anyone in Chicago with no health insurance. It is the city-run hospital, and one that is absolutely swamped with people right now. You can see a doctor every day (with common specialists also available), as long as you are willing to jump through as many hoops as possible.

First, you have to make it to the West Loop location by 7AM, or you’ve lost your chance completely. Then, you have to be one of the first 85 people checked in, or again they turn you away. Then you wait in the waiting room until they call your name, and you have to be seen before closing time, or you don’t get seen at all and are told to come back again the next day.

If you’re lucky enough to get seen, you also have to file additional paperwork for Stroger’s discount plan, information on which is only given out if you are already being seen. Luckily, any medications prescribed to you are then free, but you may have to wait a large number of hours to be seen at all.

Pet Food Pantries

I see the question “can i buy cat food with link card” turning up in Google searches. The answer right now is, no, unfortunately, you can’t.

However, in addition to food pantries, there are pet food pantries to serve those who are unable to afford pet food to feed their pets. The rationale behind having pet food pantries is to help people keep their pets rather than risk them giving up their animals.

If you have any extra pet food or pet supplies, please consider donating them to animal shelter. Like any nonprofit, they’re always in need of donations. Look around your home, do you have any toys your cat or dog is no longer interested in? Is there food they don’t like to eat? Can you afford to buy food or cat litter to donate? While I strongly support Craigslist and Freecycle, please consider donating your supplies to a shelter instead. It might also save you some time, since you won’t have to worry about people flaking out on you. 🙂

Pet food can also be donated at many Petco locations.

Chicago

In Chicago, several animal shelters, pantries, and pet-related businesses have their own pet food banks.

Animal Welfare League
6224 S. Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
773-667-0088
Last Thursday of each month

AniMeals
Serves Rogers Park and Uptown.

Care for Real
5341 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago, IL 60640
http://careforreal.org/pet.shtml
Contact: (773) 769-6182
office@careforreal.org
Details: If you live in the area, you can visit the pet food pantry the 1st Thursday of each month from 3pm to 5pm. Care for Reals asks people not to arrive before 2:45pm and to bring proof of address and need, such as a medical card if you are on Medicaid. In addition, while they generally have a large amount of dry puppy and dog food thanks to the generosity of Bark Bark Club and donors, they have a very limited supply of cat food and will likely run out of it. The dry dog food they have is in its original bags, so you might be able to get large bags of 10lbs or heavier. In addition, due to the large number of people, it might be best to allot at least an hour if you want to use the pantry.
(Care for Real also has a regular food pantry.)

Chicago Party Animals
1133 W Fulton Market, 1st Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60607
773.383.DOGS (3647)
tim@chicagopartyanimals.com
Wednesdays from 11am -2pm
Families must show proof of pet ownership and a valid ID.

PAWS
Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic
3516 W. 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
773-475-9426
Done by appointment. Will provide dog and cat food and supplies once a month.

Tree House
Uptown branch:
1212 W Carmen Ave
Chicago, IL 60640-2999
(Near the Argyle stop on the Red line)
(773) 784-5488 ext. 221
Details: The pet food pantry is available on Thursdays and you are allowed to visit it once every two weeks. They will create a file for you, ask about your number of pets and if they are fixed or not. You will also have prove that you are low income, such as through pay stubs, unemployment checks, Medicaid card, etc. They generally have canned and dry dog and cat food, treats, and kitty litter. The amount of food and brands they get is based upon what is donated to them either directly or from donation bins at area pet stores like Petco. Dry food and kitty litter is generally opened up and divided put into plastic bags meant to last several weeks. There is virtually no wait time.

National

Itchmo Pet News

National Food Bank Directory

Illinois and Wisconsin

Nose to the Ground

Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS)

The Department of Rehabilitation Services is meant to help people with disabilities find jobs. I have found from personal experience and talking to others that the quality of the services offered by DRS varies greatly from office to office, even within the same state.

One of the services I was offered was help paying for school. However, two counselors told me that DRS was unable to pay toward grad school or a second bachelor’s. However, you might be able to get help paying for your first Associate’s or Bachelor’s. I strongly suggest asking your counselor if you have any questions about this as soon as possible.

At least at the offices I went to, it was clear that the counselors were only equipped to help people looking for entry-level minimum wage jobs and/or help review a cover letter or resume. However, if you’re affiliated with a college or university, I suggest contacting the Career Services office there first because they’re more likely to get back to you in a timely manner than DRS simply because they’re likely to have a smaller caseload.

DRS can also help you attain some of the specialized equipment you need for school and/or work that is related to your disability. For example, a friend of mine with severe visual impairment was able to have DRS cover the costs of the computer software she needed. However, she told me that it was a very lengthy and difficult process to get this done.

Overall:

Like with any other official documentation you receive, you should respond as soon as possible to any notices or letters instructing you to contact or meet with your DRS counselor. Oftentimes, failure to do so by the deadline can result in changes being made to your benefits and/or ability to get benefits.

Also, it’s probably worth giving your DRS counselor a try to see if she or he can help you. If you’re having a difficult time with your assigned DRS counselor, you might want to request to see a different person or even to go to a different office.

The Ark: Services for Uninsured and Low-Income Jews

All Services Are Free

The Ark

Homepage

6450 N. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
773.973.1000
Fax: 773.973.4362
ark@arkchicago.org

The Ark has regular business hours, is open later on Wednesdays for dinner and medical services, and closes at 2pm on Fridays. It is closed Saturday, Sunday, and during Jewish holidays.

Getting There

Bus: 155 Devon bus to California or 93 California bus to Devon
El stop: None nearby
Parking: Has its own free parking lot and some street parking. Please read signs carefully.

Social Services

Medical Doctors
– Primary care, psychiatrist, dental, and some other specialists
– On-site pharmacy that dispenses free prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications
– People with health insurance are ineligible for these services

Psychological Services
– Individual and couples therapy with licensed social workers
– Outpatient day program with therapy groups including art therapy
– People with health insurance may be ineligible for these services

Kosher Pantry
– Clients can use the pantry once a month at specific times

Kosher Meals
– Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday lunches
– Wednesday dinner at 5pm
– Can request vegetarian meals
– On certain holidays, meals are delivered to clients’ homes

Thrift Store
– Located in Wicker Park, accessible by the blue line, buses, with limited parking by other stores
– Depending on your eligibility, it is possible to get vouchers for the thrift store in order to get household items for free

Homeless Shelter
– The Ark also runs a homeless shelter

Becoming a Client

To become eligible for the above services, you go through an intake where they verify that you are Jewish, financially needy, and assess what services you need. They serve all types of Jews (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, etc) though they are associated with an Orthodox synagogue. The workers appear to follow a conservative dress code, though this is not true of the people who utilize their services.

Religious Services

The Ark also offers talks on Jewish issues, services, and some holiday celebrations. The Rabbi gives talks as part of the Tuesday and Thursday lunches and is often present during the day.

If you go to The Ark for services, please feel free to leave a comment about your experiences.

Getting Medicaid When You’re Disabled

Eligibility

In Illinois, once you are certified as disabled by the federal government, that is, you are receiving Social Security Disability payments, you become eligible for Medicare regardless of income or assets depending on when you were certified as disabled. There is no further application process and you receive your medical card in the mail. In order to find out when you can expect the card, it might be a good idea to call and ask the caseworker who handled your Social Security Disability case.

In addition, once you are certified as disabled you may become eligible for Medicaid if you meet additional income and assets guidelines. Medicaid will help cover the costs of the Medicare premiums and co-pays. In this case, Medicare will become your primary insurance and Medicaid will be your secondary insurance.

Applying for Medicaid

However, you don’t automatically get Medicaid; you have to apply for it first.

Working with DHS offices can be very time consuming and difficult. While applications can be done online or by mail, if you have the time, it is generally best to go in person. Otherwise, when you follow-up on your application, you may find that DHS has no record of it and thus has not considered your case. By waiting in line and submitting the application in person, you can at least be assured that it got there.

It should also be noted that the Wicker Park DHS office has a tendency to not return calls, so if you are seeking to follow-up on your case, it is best to go in-person. The same is true if you need to reschedule an appointment. For each visit to this location, plan to allot at least forty-five minutes if you need drop off something and at least two to three hours if you need to speak to someone unless you have an appointment.

Once You Have Medicaid

Your Medicaid card will come monthly in the mail. It is actually a large slip of paper and not business card-sized. Be sure to look out for each new card so as to make sure that your coverage has not been interrupted.

Questions I Would Greatly Appreciate Help With

1) Can you get Medicaid once you are receiving Social Security Disability payments or do you have to wait until you are enrolled in Medicare?

2) What conditions can people without children gain coverage for without having been first found disabled by Social Security?

3) What is the best way to get questions about Medicaid
answered? While it is often easy to talk to a live person when calling Medicare, it is more difficult to do this when calling Medicaid.

If you’ve applied to or are enrolled in Medicaid, please feel free to leave comments about your experiences.

Thresholds – Dincin Center for Recoveries

Dincin Center for Recoveries
2700 North Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 537-3215 ‎
http://www.thresholds.org

Thresholds has many free programs for people with mental illness. One of them is a community center called the Dincin Center.

Dincin Center doesn’t have its own website but if you call or go in you can find out about what programs are going on that day, which generally include mental health groups, free cooked meals, and an activity. The building is really old and the offices a bit dreary, but the people inside are generally friendly. There is a lot of area to hang out or sit quietly by yourself. The building also contains a computer room with printers, an activity room with a large TV, a craft room, a piano, a pool table, a washer and dryer, and a free clothing room that could use some organizing. Available on-site are other services including case management and employment support.

The Dincin Center serves only people with mental illness. To get a case manager you have to attend groups and come in several times a week. After this, you can become a member and gain access to other services.

Low Cost Spay and Neuter in Chicagoland

The only way to truly cut down on the thousands of adoptable animals put down every year due to the good homes is to spay/neuter them so that less unwanted animals are born.

This is the responsibility of every pet parent and anyone seeking to adopt out their pet. Many times, I see postings online of people giving away kittens that are surely from “oops” litters. Undoubtedly, many litters of kittens and puppies arrive at shelters for the same reason. Sadly, people who allow their animals to engage in uncontrolled breeding often further their irresponsibility by giving away the kittens and puppies without fixing them first, pushing the responsibility onto someone else, who may in turn have an “oops” litter.

At the same time, there are also wonderful people out there that rescue animals they find on the street or in their backyards, and seek to have them fixed and given medical attention.

Note: Below is a Craigslist posting by an anonymous person that lists places that you can spay/neuter your pet for free or at a substantial discount. You should call to verify the information as fees and hours change over time. The bolding and underlining is my own.

The following places offer free and low cost spay/neuter for dogs and cats:

City of Chicago:

Anti-Cruelty Society
157 W. Grand
Chicago, IL 60654
You can call (312) 644-8338 ext. 347 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment.
Dogs: $40 (neuter) $60 (spay)
Cats: $10
Pit Bulls and Feral Cats: FREE
http://www.anticruelty.org

Chicago Animal Care and Control
2741 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 747-1406
Dogs and cats: $25 (additional $25 fee if pet is 50 lb. or heavier)
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/animalcarecontrol

PAWS Chicago
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
(773) 521-7729 (SPAY)
Dogs: $75 (additional fee if dog is 50 lb. or heavier)
Cats: $25
http://www.pawschicago.org

Tree House Humane Society
1629 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 227-5535
Free and low cost spay/neuter provided on a sliding scale based on income.
Dogs: starting at $45
Dogs over 50 lbs.: starting at $65
Cats: starting at $25
Feral Cats: $20
http://www.treehouseanimals.org

In all of these Chicago clinics, you may be eligible for a free spay/neuter surgery if you live in a certain zip code and/or are on Medicaid. You must be a resident of Chicago to receive free and low cost spay/neuter at Anti-Cruelty and Chicago ACC. Call for more details.

Chicago suburbs:

Aha! Alliance For Humane Action
North/Northwest Suburbs
(847) 960-8689 ext. 1
Dogs: $85 (up to 25 lbs.) $95 (25-80 lbs.) $110 (over 80 lbs.)
Cats: $75
There is an additional $20 fee if animal is in heat/pregnant.
http://ahaworks.org

Anderson Animal Shelter
1000 S. La Fox Rd.
South Elgin, IL 60177
(847) 697-2880 ext. 3
Dogs: $90 (neuter) $100 (spay)
Dogs over 50 lbs.: $100 (neuter) $110 (spay)
Cats: $60 (neuter) $80 (spay)
http://www.andersonanimalshelter.org

Animal Care League
1013 Garfield St.
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 848-8155
Dogs: $50
Cats: $35
http://www.animalcareleague.org

Animal Welfare League
10305 Southwest Highway
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
(708) 636-8586
Dogs: $119-$174 (price determined by weight)
Cats: $75
http://www.animalwelfareleague.com

NAWS Animal Clinic
10080 W. 191st St.
Mokena, IL 60448
(708) 478-5102
There is reduced pricing for people on public assistance. Call for details.
Special spay/neuter promotion during the month of May:
Dogs: $70
Dogs over 75 lbs.: $90
Cats: $40
Pit Bulls: $50
http://www.nawsus.org

South Suburban Humane Society
18349 S. Halsted
Glenwood, IL 60425
(708) 755-1110
There is reduced pricing for residents of certain zip codes.
Dogs: $55 (neuter) $65 (spay)
Dogs over 75 lbs.: $75
Pit Bulls: $50
Cats: $40 (neuter) $50 (spay)
http://www.sshspets.org

Save lives – spay and neuter!

Reduced Cost Medications

DISCLAIMER: We are not doctors and nothing written in this blog should be taken as medical advice. It is meant to complement, not replace, the relationship with your doctor. Please check all information with your doctor, pharmacist, insurance company, and mental health treatment team. We cannot attest to the veracity of everything in this post.

Please note: This post has been written by both my friend JC and myself. He also deserves credit for the research entailed in this post.

Psychiatric medications, like most medications, are not cheap. Oftentimes, the high price is due to the fact that the medication is still patented, and so there is no generic alternative. The federal government has repeatedly introduced programs for pharmaceutical companies to extend their patents, and it appears that many medications may be delayed in becoming generic. However, there are some ways to cut down on costs, rather than forgo your medications altogether.

Always Check to See if There is a Generic – Just Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist

By federal law, generics are required to be just as effective as name-brand medications. Always ask the person prescribing your medication if it’s generic, and if not, if there is an alternative with a generic version. If you are having financial difficulties, you can tell your doctor this and ask if there’s a generic medication that can be substituted for the name brand one. To fully know your options, do your research at home. Your doctor may not know all the generics that exist and may not readily think of substitutes, especially in cases where a generic has only recently become available. It would probably be best to print out any relevant information you find to show it to your doctor directly.

One thing to be careful of is if the dosing is different for the same medication based on if it is name-brand or generic. For example, the name-brand medication might come in 88mg and 100mg but the generic only comes in 100mg. For this, you might have to split the pills or have the amount be slightly off. Always check with your doctor first.

Another issue with generics (and even within the same name-brand medication) is that sometimes there are several different release formulas for the same medication. For example, you may have been prescribed “extended release” or “sustained release” and the generic does not have this version. You will have to consult with your doctor to see what you should do about this.

To get discount generics, try chain pharmacies. Many such as Target, Walgreens, CVS, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and others offer $4/month generics or a similar deal. Just ask to see the price list and what medications are discounted. Also keep in mind that some programs require an annual fee, while others (which are better deals) offer this without a fee. You will be paying for the medications out of pocket and DO NOT need health insurance to access this discount. For any medications that you can’t afford to get filled, make sure you hold onto your scripts while you shop around.

Discount Programs and Coupons

Asking for Medication Samples From Your Doctor

Some doctors have medication samples that they are able to give out to their patients. They were likely given to them by drug company marketing representatives. Only ask for medications that your doctor has talked about prescribing to you. We don’t know how effective this tactic might be, as your doctor may say no or might not have any samples to give out, but theoretically, it shouldn’t hurt to ask.

Pharmaceutical Company Discounts

Most drug companies, in an effort to improve their public image and remain competitive, have programs in which they give out their medication for free or at a discount rate. Another reason they’re doing this is because they want to discourage people from switching to a competitor’s medication due to economic factors.

Of course, drug companies are businesses. They exist to support their bottom line (and often their shareholders), to keep costs down, and increase profits. The most successful way to do this is to create effective medications that help people who take them, but there have been cases where medications have been hyped beyond their effectiveness. Remember to ask critical questions of your doctor, and make sure you’re comfortable with whatever medications they suggest.

Don’t be surprised if the task for applying for these programs is arduous requiring lots of paperwork, visits to doctors, and long waiting periods. While it may be worth a try, please don’t rely on this as your back-up option.

The best system for searching for these discount programs is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which is sponsored by the major pharmaceutical companies. You simply enter the medications you are taking, and it returns a list of programs that are available.

If anyone as any additional suggestions or experiences to share, please let me know!