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Filing an Unemployment
Claim: File online or by phone with the
Unemployment
Insurance Agency (UIA), the State of Michigan's
source for unemployment claims.
- UIA may be reached toll free at (866) 500-0017
Michigan
Works! provide in-person assistance, computers, and
job postings, at local offices throughout the state:
No Worker Left
Behind - free tuition available to job seekers. Must
apply by July 2010 for up to $5,000 per year for two
years to get a degree in a high demand field
- Toll free phone: 800-285-WORK
For additional assistance in filing your claim, watch
Filing Your Claim for Unemployment Benefits &
Finding a Job at the UIA website.
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Health Insurance Options:
COBRA
If you do not qualify for insurance through your
spouse/partner's employer or for Medicaid, you may
qualify for a reduction of 65% of the cost of COBRA for
up to nine months through a new government program. This
program may also be available if you previously did not
elect for COBRA.
Spouse/Partner's insurance
Consider enrolling in health insurance available
through spouse's or partner's employer. Under the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act, HIPPA, you have 30 days to enroll in
your spouse/partner's plan if you lose insurance due to
loss of employment, regardless of when the open
enrollment period is.
Private Health Insurance
Research health care insurance providers based on
cost and amount of coverage.
- The
National Committee for Quality Assurance
not-for-profit organization provides "Report Cards" on
Health Insurance Providers.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BC/BS) of Michigan is the
state's nonprofit insurer of last resort. BC/BS must
accept all applicants.
- BC/BS may be contacted toll free at 1 (877)
4MY-BLUE [877-469-2583]
Government Funded Health Insurance
Veterans qualify for
VA
benefits: (877) 222-8387
Medicaid is available to low-income families,
disabled persons, children, and pregnant women. To apply
for Medicaid, go to or call your
local Department of Health Services office.
MIChild helps children under age 19 of working
families (those who do not qualify for Medicaid). This
program has a higher income bracket than the Medicaid
program.
- Toll Free at (888) 988-6300
Free or Low Cost Primary Care
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Finding a New Job:
Cover Letters, Resumes & References
Job Searching
Occupational
Outlook Handbook looks at future growth in different
occupations. Published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the Handbook includes information on income,
training, job searching and the job market by state.
Job searching websites:
Interview Preparation
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Home Ownership Preservation:
Help for Homeowners from Southeast Michigan Council Of
Governments (SEMCOG)
- Toll Free: (800) 961-3334
- Provides homeowners with access to many
resources including timelines, counseling services,
treasurer's offices, housing assistance, and advice
on avoiding scams
Michigan Foreclosure and Delinquency Assistance from
United Way of Southeastern Mich
- Toll Free: 211 or (800) 552-1183
- Learn about foreclosures or use a quick
assessment tool to find out if you are at risk
- Referral services also available
Housing and Energy Assistance from the Oakland
Livingston Human Service Agency
- (248) 209-2600 for Pontiac, or (248) 542-5860
for Ferndale
- Offers foreclosure prevention counseling as well
as home ownership counseling and assistance
GreenPath Debt
Solutions
- Toll Free: (800) 550-1961
- Non-profit organization in Farmington Hills
offering help with foreclosure prevention,
repossession, and utility shutoff. Offers free debt
counseling services either over the phone or
in-person
- Also information on loan modification scams that
claim to be associated with the U.S. Dept of Housing
and Urban Development
Money Management International
- Phone: (866) 889-9347
- HUD Certified
- Budget, credit and housing counseling
- Debt management services
- Bankruptcy counseling & education
- On-line financial educatoin
Save the Dream Program
- Toll Free: (866) 946-7432
- Program operated by MSHDA (Michigan State
Housing Development Authority) to help homeowners
keep their homes through refinancing
Michigan
Foreclosure Prevention Project
- (734) 615-2450
- Collaborative statewide project from the
Michigan Poverty Law Program that provides direct
legal representation to homeowners facing
foreclosure, support to housing counseling
organizations, coordinating policy advocacy on a
statewide basis, and provides training and technical
support
Making Home Affordable from the Department of the
Treasury
- Toll Free: (888) 995-HOPE
- Refinance or modify loans to a payment that is
affordable now and into the future. A
self-assessment tool provided allows homeowners to
determine if they are able to benefit from this
program. Also includes FAQs, payment estimators and
lots of other valuable resources
Livingston County Basic Needs
Workgroup
- (810) 494-3000
- Livingston County United Way, 2980 Dorr Rd.,
Brighton, MI. 48116
- This program offers free, individual counseling
sessions with a qualified, local attorney, several
times during the year, on a limited basis, and by
appointment only. The 15-minute session will provide
a professional recommendation for the next stop in
each unique situation. Call for a schedule and for a
list of required documents
Right at Home
- Partnership: National Credit Union Foundation,
Michigan Credit Union League, Michigan Association
of United Ways, and Michigan State University
Extension
- This on-line resource offers comprehensive
information on housing issues, including foreclosure
information and many links to additional
housing-related information resources.
Hope Now
- Toll Free: (888) 995-HOPE
- An alliance between HUD approved housing
counselors and mortgage companies that provides free
foreclosure prevention assistance
Mortgage Foreclosure Resources for Consumers from
the Federal Reserve
- Information and links to agencies and
organizations that may be able to help consumers
ACORN Foreclosure Campaign from Association of
Community Organizations for Reform Now
- Toll Free: (866) 67-ACORN or (313) 963-1840
- Help for low-to-moderate income homeowners.
Information about predatory lending and the
foreclosure crisis
Foreclosure Prevention Resource Center
- The Mortgage Bankers Association provides
information about the foreclosure process and
borrower options
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Credit Repair & Maintenance:
Credit Score/Report
-
AnnualCreditReport.com - get your free annual
credit report. No strings attached.
- myFICO.com -
Find out your credit score (must sign up for a trial
but can avoid payment if you cancel within 30 days)
Maintaining Good Credit
Credit Counseling
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Additional Assistance Programs:
General Assistance
United Way 2-1-1
is a multi-lingual, comprehensive information and
referral service available 24/7/365. Its database
contains more than 20,000 programs and services such as
after school programs, senior care services, medical and
prescription assistance, credit counseling and mortgage
foreclosure assistance, and housing and utility
resources. Dial 211 for assistance.
Michigan Department of Human Services
The Michigan
Department of Human Services provides help in
numerous ways. Call (517) 373-2035 for assistance.
U.S. Representative John Dingell’s office has
compiled a guidebook for displaced workers, including
information on unemployment benefits, food stamps,
foreclosure assistance, job training programs and more.
Please click
HERE to access the pdf booklet.
Social Security Benefits
- 5210 Perry Robinson, Lansing, MI. 48911
- (517) 393-3876 or 1-800-772-1213
- Social Security benefits include monthly
payments made to certain formerly employed persons
or their beneficiaries. Generally, those eligible
include: retired persons 62 years or older, disables
workers and spouses and children of disabled or
deceased workers.
Utilities
The
2009 Michigan Energy Assistance Directory, developed
by the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm, provides
information on private and public programs that offer
energy assistance, as well as a county listing of
utilities, programs, and resources available.
The Salvation Army
- 503 Lake Street, Howell, MI. 48843
- (517) 546-4750
- Assistance is available for all utilities, as
funds allow; one time - per 12 months - per utility.
Call to schedule an appointment with a caseworker
Love in the Name of Christ
- (517) 586-4007
- Please call Mon-Thurs., 9:30am-12:30pm and 1-3pm
Food Stamps/Food Banks
Senior Services
Medical Services
St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital
(Livingston County's only full-service hospital) 24-hour
emergency
- 620 Byron Road, Howell, MI. 48843 ... (517)
545-6000
- Woodland Health Center: 7575 Grand River,
Brighton, MI. 48114 ... (810) 844-7575
- Urgent Care: Monday - Sunday 8am-10pm ...
(810) 844-7511
- Cancer Center: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm ...
(810) 844-7250
- McAuley Support Program: Offers financial
assistance for medically necessary in-patient
services to qualified uninsured and underinsured
residents. Call (734) 712-2009 for information
Faith Medical Clinic
- 1066 E. M-36, Pinckney, MI 48169 ... (734)
474-4627
- This is a free nondenominational medical clinic,
available to uninsured persons 18-64 years of age.
The clinic is located in Pinckney and operates
Saturdays from 9am-1pm. Walk-in clients can
generally be accommodated and Livingston County
residency is not required.
St. Luke Hometown Healthcare
- 9912 E. Grand River, Ste 1000, Brighton, MI.
48116 ... (810) 623-8182
- Offers basic health care and psychiatric
services at reasonable prices, for those without
insurance. Call for an appointment.
Livingston County Health Department
- 2300 E. Grand River, Howell, MI. 48843 ... (517)
546-9850
- Also provided a wide range of medical testing
and screening for disease including immunizations,
TB testing, HIV testing, flu clinics, hearing and
vision screenings)
- MI Child Registration: state health plan
for uninsured children, ages 18 and younger, of
working families at or below the 200% of federal
poverty line. Use the online calculator at
healthcare4mi.com to determine eligibility.
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC): serves
low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women and
their children up to age 5. The program also screens
clients for health problems and makes referrals to
health services.
Livingston County Health Plan B
- 2300 E. Grand River, Howell, MI. 48843 ... (517)
546-9850
- This is a county funded health plan which
assists with out-patient health care costs.
Enrollment and physician participation is fairly
limited and one must be a resident of the county.
Eligibility is based on annual household income
equal to or less that 150% of the Federal poverty
level and limited assets.
Medicaid
- Livingston County Department of Human Services,
2300 E. Grand River, Howell, MI. 48843 ... (517)
546-9850
- Medicaid is a government health care program
available to persons that are aged, blind or
disabled and families or eligible parents/caretaker
relatives for a dependent child.
Prescription Drug Assistance
- Many large retail stores with pharmacies, such
as Target, Kroger, Meijer and Walmart offer
prescription medication assistance for $4.00 for
generic prescription drugs or free antibiotics.
Visit these pharmacies to check which medications
are included in the program and ask your physician
if these medications would be appropriate to treat
your condition.
- If your diagnosis requires non-generic
medications or medications not on the discounted
formularies, you may want to visit
www.NeedyMeds.org
to investigate patient assistance programs for your
specific medication.
VINA (Vision, Integrity, Need and Action) Community
Dental Center
- 400 E. Grand River, Brighton, MI. 48116 ...
(810) 844-0240
- This dental clinic is staffed by volunteer
professionals and provides services to Livingston
County resident - adults 19 years of age and older,
who lack dental insurance, with household incomes at
or less that 200% of federal poverty level. Nominal
fee per office visit.
Renaissance Health Savings Card
- 2300 E. Grand River, Howell, MI. 48843 ... (517)
546-9850
- This is not dental insurance or a dental plan,
but rather a discount program featuring 20%-55%
savings on common dental services and procedures at
participating providers. Nominal annual fee. No
eligibility requirements. Available to individuals
and families.
Transportation
- Livingston Essential Transportation Service (L.E.T.S.)
3950 W. Grand River, Howell, MI. 48855 ... (517)
546-6600
Please call to schedule a ride (at least one day in
advance) and to determine cost
- People's Express (Washtenaw County and adjacent
areas)
(877) 214-6073
Please call M-F 10am-2pm to schedule a ride (at
least 3 days in advance) and to determine cost
-
Ride Connect (866) 977-9423
Online search for available transportation in
Washtenaw and other limited selected areas)
Local Libraries
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