NCOA's Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW) helps community-based organizations enroll older adults and people with disabilities with limited means into the benefits programs for which they are eligible so that they can remain healthy, independent, and improve the quality of their lives.

The Center for Economic Well-Being accomplishes its mission by:

• Providing tools and resources that help local, state, and regional organizations to find, counsel, and assist seniors and younger adults with disabilities to apply for and enroll in the benefits for which they may be eligible.
• Generating and disseminating new knowledge about best practices and cost effective strategies for benefits outreach and enrollment.

Key benefits for people with Medicare

Along with its partners, CEW works to maximize enrollment in a variety of public and private benefits.

CEW's main programs of interest are:

• Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)
• Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as Food Stamps)
• Medicaid
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

In addition, CEW assists professionals and consumers to apply for and enroll in these programs both through personalized benefits counseling in their communities, and online via our free online screening tool, BenefitsCheckUp®.

Funding for the Center for Economic Well-Being

The Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW) is the designated National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment funded under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) through by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL).

CEW also manages the Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative, an effort funded by the Walmart Foundation to increase older adult enrollment into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

The content and views expressed herein are those of NCOA and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, ACL or the Walmart Foundation.

Training and technical assistance

CEW can offer training and technical assistance on a wide range of benefits access issues.

We do this through several means:

• Webinars on topics including changes to benefits programs, strategies for outreach and enrollment, Medicare benefits, and more.
• Presentations and workshops at numerous national, regional, and state conferences throughout the year.
• Publications, including case studies, promising practices, success stories, and other periodic reports. 
• Data visualization tools that help professionals understand areas of need in their communities.
• Updating and maintaining our online screening tool, BenefitsCheckUp®.
• Individualized support.

How to contact the Center for Economic Well-Being

Please send inquiries to Center4EWB@ncoa.org.