Has my rent renewal application been approved?

Dear John: I’m an elderly widow living in a rent-controlled apartment. My only income is Social Security.

About 18 years ago, I went to the Department of Aging, and it froze my rent at $378.26 a month.

Every two years since, I went to the library and asked for a special re-application form and I mailed it in.

Without this benefit, I would soon be homeless.

In the past two years, my health has deteriorated. I am now blind in my right eye and in a lot of pain.

The application the librarian gave me this time was a little different, and I had a little trouble with it.

But I filled it out and mailed it certified, and received a green receipt in the mail.

But it’s been over a month, and I have not received my approval letter yet.

I don’t have e-mail or a cell phone. And my Verizon landline phone was destroyed by massive work in our building.

The deadline is Dec. 31. I’m concerned that I made a mistake filling out the application and was rejected. I would appreciate any help you can give me. S.S.

Dear S.S.: How’s this? You’ve been approved.

I contacted the New York City Department of Finance for you, and it moved quickly to allay your fears. This is the answer in an e-mail, which I am forwarding by mail to you. “(Ms. S’s) benefit doesn’t end until 1/1/18. She sent in her renewal early and our system doesn’t allow processing of a renewal prior to 90 days of the benefit ending.

“In any case, our team approved it today, and her benefit is renewed through 12/31/2019. She and her landlord should receive an approval order within five to seven business days.”

I also contacted Verizon to fix your phone. And the company was happy to get right on it. Construction or not, nobody at your age and in your condition should be without a phone.

Enjoy your apartment. Hope you feel better.

Dear John: Great article on New York state’s irrational attempt to cut down on Medicaid fraud by telling medical professionals what it will be looking at.

My company, in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is working on this very issue by identifying fraud before it occurs. As a native New Yorker and a health care professional, I know New York, Florida and Texas are the three states with very high Medicare fraud.

Articles like this are needed to educate the public on how fraud impacts the delivery of care to all Americans. J.A.

Dear J.A.: Glad to help. Go get ’em! And since you didn’t mention the name of your company, I figure you are not just out for publicity.