MiCAFE Client Story: Ms. C
By Grace DeRose-Wilson, Screening Integration Coordinator at Elder Law of Michigan
Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly (MiCAFE) is a program of Elder Law of Michigan that helps potentially eligible older adults and individuals with disabilities access and apply for public benefits through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MiCAFE also helps older adults and people with disabilities who are struggling to renew and maintain their benefits after getting approved.
Ms. C was having trouble paying her bills and affording food. One day a friend told Ms. C about a program called MiCAFE. Ms. C’s friend gave Ms. C a phone number and told her to call to see if she might qualify for some help. Ms. C called the number and completed a brief screening. The screening showed that Ms. C could potentially qualify for food assistance as well as the Medicare Savings Program (MSP).
MiCAFE helped Ms. C apply for MSP and food assistance. Ms. C was approved for food assistance and soon received a Bridge Card in the mail. A year later when it came time for Ms. C to renew her food assistance, she completed the renewal paperwork and returned it to her caseworker. Ms. C’s food benefits ended even though she had returned her renewal paperwork, so Ms. C called MiCAFE to find out why.
Ms. C spoke to a MiCAFE Screening Integration Coordinator who was able to contact MiCAFE’s in-house MDHHS specialist. Within 45 minutes, the MiCAFE’s in-house MDHHS specialist was able to contact Ms. C’s caseworker and get Ms. C’s food assistance benefits reinstated. Ms. C was very happy with the assistance MiCAFE was able to provide. “You can’t beat MiCAFE for efficiency.” She said, “You got an answer for me before I even had time to stop and think!”
If you would like help applying for or renewing your benefits through MDHHS or if you have questions about your benefits and are unable to contact your MDHHS caseworker, call MiCAFE at 877.664.2233
Grace DeRose-Wilson is a Screening Integration Coordinator for MiCAFE at Elder Law of Michigan and has been a member of the Elder Law of Michigan team since November 2018. As a Screening Integration Coordinator, Grace helps Michigan seniors navigate the benefits application process and helps raise awareness of benefits through community outreach events.