You are now a SOCIAL WORKER or a COUNSELOR. There are 2 cases regarding an
individual below. Based on the history provided for the individual, answer the question based on knowledge
you have and/or learned from reading your text. Remember that as a social worker the individual may not know
what they need are eligible for. It is your job to provide resources that the individual may not ask for but may
help their situation. Consider the 4 basic needs of a person. They may come to your office requesting what is in
the case scenario your job is to contact them with resources they may not know that will be helpful to them.
Your grade is constructed by earning points gained from each section, for a possible total of 100.
Worth 50 points each
Mary is a 65 year old divorced woman who has worked all her life at menial jobs to support herself and her two
daughters. All of her work has been “under the table” such as housecleaning jobs or childcare positions. She
has minimal education and no special skills. At 65 her health is poor and she no longer has the strength to
continue to watch after young children. She rents her home for $450/mo. and has no assets. What options are
available to her for retirement? How will she pay her medical bills? How will she pay her rent and food?
Shirley is a 59 year old widow. When her husband died at age 66 he left her with a small savings of $5,000 and
a home with a second mortgage. They had been living comfortably on his pension of $900/mo. and Social
Security benefits of $850/mo. His pension did not have survivor’s benefits. She has never held a job for longer
than 6 years and is presently unemployed. As a widow she is not eligible for Social Security until age 60, and
then only $480 per month in benefits. When she turns 65 that amount will increase to $676. Her mortgage is
$830/mo. What is her economic outlook? What can she do to better her situation?