Information   and   Referral—How   to   do   it,   is  a handbook which can be ordered at no cost from: Director National  Clearing  House  on  Aging 4th and G Streets SW Washington,  DC  20201 Aging  information  and  resource  information which  addresses  the  problems  and  needs  of  the elderly  can  also  be  obtained  from  the  National Clearing  House  on  Aging  or  from  the  nearest regional,   state, or  local  office  on  aging. Nearly  every  community  in  the  United  States is  normally  served  by  some  sort  of  agency  on aging  and  every  state  has  an  agency  on  aging. The  RP  can  check  with  these  agencies  for resource lists. Social Security Program The Social Security Program is administered by  the  Social  Security  Administration  which  is under the direction of the Department of Health and  Human  Services.  This  program  provides: Retirement  Benefits Survivor  Benefits Disability  Benefits Medicare  Benefits  (applications  are  filed with  the  Social  Security  Office  but  the  program is  administered  by  the  Health  Care  Financing Administration) A  major  portion  of  the  American  work  force is covered by Social Security. Retirees may apply for  benefits  at  any  Social  Security  office. T H E    S U P P L E M E N T A L    S E C U R I T Y INCOME   PROGRAM.—This   program   is administered  by  the  Social  Security  Adminis- tration.  It  is  funded  from  general  revenues rather  than  Social  Security  contributions.  This program assures a minimum level of income for aged,  blind,  and  disabled  persons  who  have limited  income  and  resources. Medicare and Medicaid The  Medicare  Program  is  administered  by the  Health  Care  Financing  Administration.  The Medicare  Program  assists: Persons  65  and  over Disabled persons under 65 who have been entitled to disability checks for at least 2 years Insured  people  and  their  dependents  who need  a  kidney  transplant  or  dialysis  treatment because  of  permanent  kidney  failure The  hospital  insurance  part  of  Medicare helps  pay  the  costs  of  inpatient  hospital  care and  certain  kinds  of  followup  care.  The  medi- cal  insurance  part  of  Medicare  helps  pay  for the  cost  of  doctor’s  services,  outpatient  hospital services, and for certain other medical items and services,  Federal  assistance  is  also  provided  to state  medical-aid  programs  which  have  become known  as  Medicaid  programs. The  Veterans’  Administration  (VA) The   Veterans’   Administration   (VA)   is   the agency  responsible  for  administering  the  major veterans’   programs   authorized   by   Congress. Retirement  has  been  considered  the  same  as discharge  for  the  purpose  of  VA  benefits. Eligibility  of  individual  retired  members  for specific  VA  benefits  must  be  determined  by  the VA. The  VA  is  authorized  by  law  to  guarantee loans  for  homes;  to  administer  the  National Service  Life  Insurance,  United  States  Govern- ment  Life  Insurance,  Servicemen’s  Group  Life Insurance,  and  Veterans  Group  Life  Insurance programs;  to  provide  medical  benefits  to  dis- abled veterans and veterans of wartime service; to administer financial benefits payable to eligi- ble  veterans  and  their  survivors;  to  provide educational  assistance  or  benefits  for  veterans, depending  on  their  service  dates;  to  administer the contributory educational assistance program for veterans who entered active duty on or after Jan  1,  1977;  and  to  administer  certain  burial benefits. 5-30