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Monroe County | monroecounty-fl.gov
Social Services www.monroecounty-fl.gov/socialservices
Monroe County Social Services provides a holistic approach to case management, interim financial assistance, medical assistance, and other life-sustaining supportive assistance to eligible individuals and families in need of these services throughout Monroe County. Social Services assists a growing and diverse population with a number of long-standing local, state, and federal programs with three staffed offices throughout Monroe County. Offices: • Key West: Gato Building • Key Largo: Tradewinds Plaza • Satellite office: Marathon, 63rd Street Government Annex
In 2020, COVID-19 created more hardship for Monroe County residents. Hundreds of thousands of incoming calls from citizens were received seeking assistance from Social Services wide variety of programs and services. Priority is available for families and households with very young children, disabled individuals, and/or elderly citizens. Social Services provides and manages the following services and programs: Assistive Device Loaner Program: Loans equipment to families and individuals who cannot otherwise afford items like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, electric wheelchairs/ scooters, shower chairs, bedside commodes, etc. This program is need-based, not eligibility-based. Consumable Supplies: Provides consumable supplies to eligible individuals who cannot otherwise afford them like adult diapers or briefs, bed pads, wipes, disposable gloves, nutritional drinks, etc. Energy Assistance: The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program that helps lowincome households with their home energy bills. Priority assistance is provided to households that include the elderly, disabled, or very young children. This program provides financial relief from high energy costs in order to prevent service disconnection for families and individuals in crisis.
This year, Social Services has served approximately 515 households countywide with more than $205,000 in grant funding. Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA) Program: HCRA was enacted in order to ensure that adequate and affordable health care is available to all Floridians. Social Services is responsible for determining HCRA eligibility. In-Home Services: Homemaking, personal care, chore, companionship for the elderly, shopping assistance, in-home or facility-based respite, and group and individual caregiver training to eligible elderly and disabled individuals throughout Monroe County. Medicaid Reimbursement for Hospitals & Nursing Homes: Per Section 409.915, Florida Statutes, the Department of Revenue is responsible for collecting from counties the share of costs for Medicaid recipients. Although the state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state is required to charge the county an annual amount in order to acquire a certain portion of the funds. Medical Assistance: Medical or Dental financial help in emergency situations. Monroe County Transit (MCT): Door-to-door transportation for the elderly, disabled, and transportation disadvantaged. This allows transportation disadvantaged citizens to remain independent by assisting them. Citizens who are 60 years and older ride free. In 2020, despite COVID-19, approximately 14,000 one-way trips were provided.
