As we get older, our income becomes limited. Seniors can often find themselves in a precarious position of living on a budget. For many folks, there may be situations in which further financial assistance is needed.
The loss of employment income can be a challenge, especially for those who have not previously lived within a smaller budget. While there may be a decrease in costs for things such as housing or “work necessities”, there may also be additional costs for things such as medications and health care. Financial assistance is a need for many senior households.
What financial assistance resources are available for seniors across the U.S.? There actually are quite a number of them, some you may not even know about or know how to find. In this article, we’ll talk about them and how to locate the assistance you or a loved one may need.
Table of Contents
Financial Assistance Resources
Healthcare Assistance
Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program, also known as SHIP, is a free healthcare benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries. Once on the website, click on the SHIP Locator button to find your state.
If you haven’t already checked out the Medicare Program offered by the U.S. government, click here to see if you are eligible. To see more about Medicare, what’s covered and who is eligible, click this link.
Food Programs
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a program that offers access to healthy food across the country for low-income homes. There are financial restrictions in place, so have a look at their website to determine if you or your loved one is eligible.
If one is eligible for SNAP, there is a good chance they will also be eligible for TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program). Scroll down their website until your see “How to Apply” or click here.
The long-standing agency Meals on Wheels is also a solid resource. While not available nationwide, in some areas they also offer dog and/or cat food to those who qualify.
Legal Assistance
Hiring a lawyer can be unnerving and costly for those in need of financial assistance. Elder law attorneys are those who specialize in the laws surrounding seniors. They are specially certified and focus on the needs of seniors and those with disabilities. Find out more on The National Elder Law Foundation website.
Home Care Assistance
From their website, the “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy-related home repairs.”
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is another program you want to be aware of. They work with communities “by enabling property owners to make their homes and businesses more efficient and resilient.” To begin, see if PACE is offered in your area here.
Cell Phones
There are a number of telephone companies that offer free or deeply discounted phones for seniors, including Verizon, T-Mobile and Assurance Wireless. If you are a member of AARP, there are also cell phone plan discounts offered to you. Click here to find out more.
Transportation Cost Assistance
While most local public transportation agencies offer seniors’ discounts, it may be hard to figure out who does what and how to claim the discounts. The Eldercare Locator has a terrific list of resources, all you need to do is key in your Zip Code at the top of the page.
GoGoGrandparent is also a terrific, albeit perhaps not widely known resource. They are a concierge service that contracts screened drivers from Uber or Lyft (and also delivery drivers from services like Instacart and Doordash). There is a cost involved, but the cost is often less than taking a taxi and you would have the peace of mind that the drivers have been screened and work with elders on a regular basis.
Benefits CheckUp
Benefits CheckUp is a free service offered by the NCOA (National Council on Aging). There is an easy to use tool online to help find the resources that may be of use and are available in your senior’s area. To begin, enter the Zip Code into the search field and click Get Started. On the next screen, follow the instructions to locate services in your area, or the geographical are of your loved one.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs can connect you with a number of state agencies that you may not even know exist.
If you live outside of Florida, you can search for resources by state here. You can search by state or for more specific resources, enter your Zip Code and search for local resources.
Wrap Up
Needing financial assistance at any age can feel challenging, but you’ve worked hard all of your life. But, it’s completely worthwhile to do a little research and see what financial assistance programs might be available for you or someone you love.
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Do you have questions about how you can better support your loved one while they age in place in South Florida or regarding homecare in general? Please contact CareGivers of America here: Contact or call us toll free: 800-342-4197
*No information in this article is to be taken as advice, medical or otherwise. This post is not sponsored, but may contain external links to websites, articles or product examples. External links are used for example or refence purposes only and these links do not indicate specific product or website endorsement by CareGivers of America.