Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s (PYM) Aging Grants help older Friends meet expenses related to housing, medical care, and daily living. These grants are available to eligible members and attenders of PYM monthly meetings age 60 and older who need financial assistance. Recent updates to the application process share eligibility requirements, financial information, and the support available to Friends applying for grants.
Purpose
Who is Eligible To Apply and What Are Eligible Expenses?
- The application form today serves renewing recipients, new applicants for monthly grants, and one-time grant requests.
- Grantees must be 60 years or older, members or attenders of PYM
- Eligible expenses to support Friends aging in place or in residential communities include:
- Living expenses
- Medical expenses
- Housing expenses
- Home maintenance expenses
Who Completes the Application?
PYM Aging Grants applicants have seen an evolution of the grant application form from paper to online applications. The grant applicant or their identified contact person may complete the form. The applicant or their contact email address is necessary for communication with PYM.
Who Should Inform the Meeting Clerk of the Application?
Informing the Clerks of Meetings is the applicant’s responsibility. Clerks are expected to connect with the Aging Support Coordinator to acknowledge their members.
Financial Need Requirements
Grant applicants are guided to be knowledgeable of their monthly expenses. The expenses are to be documented on the application. Today’s eligibility requirement is that aging grants will be discerned upon review of applicant’s liquid cash (savings, investments, retirement funds). Information is to be shared on the application. If the applicant’s one year’s expenses are greater than the applicant’s liquid cash, the grant groups will discern their request.
Financial Power of Attorney
Upon receiving approval of a new monthly or one-time grant, applicants are asked to send PYM a copy of their Financial Power of Attorney within a year of a grant approval. The grant groups discerned this requirement upon finding aging friends’ health and ability to manage their funds properly, at some time, may need support and assistance. The grant funds are discerned to meet the needs of the friend and need to be managed appropriately.
PYM Support – It Takes A Team
Friends are known by their Meetings and Quarters and often are supported through the application process. Clerks of Meetings and Care and Concern Committees, friends, family members, or others may directly help the applicant complete the form.
The aging grant groups and multiple PYM staff are involved in supporting friends through the aging grant application process. Once friends are discerned approved, they are asked to complete an ACH form to assist them with direct access to their grant funds.
The aging grant groups are supported by Joey Leroux, Director of Grantmaking and Data and PYM’s Aging Support Coordinator, Sheila Sorkin, Sheila may be reached by email ssorkin@pym.org or telephone (215) 241-7068. Connect with Sheila to discuss your consideration of an aging grant application or for support through completing the application.
