Huntington Station [March 11th, 2026]: The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is proud to announce its selection as a new Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) for the Eastern Region through the National Council on Aging (NCOA). This designation expands HWCLI’s capacity to provide one-on-one benefits enrollment assistance to older adults and people with disabilities across Long Island.

As a Benefits Enrollment Center, HWCLI will help eligible individuals access critical public benefit programs, including:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicaid
• Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
• Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) for prescription drug coverage

These programs help older adults afford healthy food, access essential healthcare services, reduce Medicare premiums, and lower prescription drug costs- improving financial stability and overall well-being.

The National Council on Aging is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are struggling. Through advocacy, innovative programs, research, and partnerships, NCOA works to ensure equitable access to benefits, healthcare, economic security, and healthy aging resources. NCOA is currently celebrating the achievement of its ambitious social impact goal of improving the lives of 40 million older adults nationwide.

“Becoming a Benefits Enrollment Center strengthens our ability to ensure that older Long Islanders and individuals with disabilities can age with dignity and financial security,” said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, HWCLI President and CEO. “Far too many eligible residents are not accessing benefits that could significantly improve their quality of life. This designation allows us to deepen our outreach and direct assistance across the region.”

For nearly 80 years, the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island has served as the region’s umbrella organization for health and human service providers. HWCLI works to address food insecurity, healthcare access, disaster response coordination, workforce development, and public policy advocacy. Through direct service programs and coalition leadership, HWCLI supports a network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening Long Island’s social safety net.

As a Benefits Enrollment Center, HWCLI will expand outreach efforts through enrollment events, community workshops, and partnerships with local agencies to ensure eligible residents receive the benefits they deserve. For more information about benefits enrollment assistance, please contact [email protected] or visit www.hwci.com 

About the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island

The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) is a nonprofit umbrella organization representing health and human service providers across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. HWCLI works to improve the quality of life for Long Islanders through advocacy, direct service programs, coalition-building, and system-wide coordination.

About the National Council on Aging

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) provides the resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy needed to help every person age with health and economic well-being. Since 1950, NCOA has been a national voice for older adults, helping secure Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, and the Affordable Care Act. Through trusted information, personalized tools, technical assistance for community organizations, product reviews, and national advocacy, NCOA empowers millions of older adults and caregivers while combating ageism.

This publication was supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $13,504,196.00 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.