Shelley EIf you’re a senior living on a low to moderate income, you’ll be pleased to know that there are several programs to give you a helping hand for things like housing, food, healthcare, and more.
As you age, you may find yourself worrying about how you’ll keep up with expenses as your income decreases. You may also worry about the ever-increasing costs of healthcare and how you’ll handle a medical emergency. While you’re certainly not alone in these not so pleasant thoughts, you’re also not alone when it comes to making them disappear.
There are a plethora of programs aimed to help low and moderate-income seniors. We’ll give you a general overview of what’s out there so you can begin researching your options today.
Sources of Assistance for Low and Moderate-Income Seniors
Where can you find assistance for seniors with financial need? Here are some of the most common sources:
- The federal government
- The state where you live
- The city or county where you live
- Nonprofit organizations
- Faith-based and community organizations
Types of Senior Assistance
Now that you know where the assistance can come from, it’s time to list the available types of help. Almost every significant aspect of your life can be covered through these forms of senior assistance:
- Healthcare – Medicaid, Medicare, PACE
- Housing – Affordable housing, subsidized housing, Section 8, Section 202
- Food – Meals at Home, Congregate Meals, Meals on Wheels, SNAP, food banks
- Jobs – Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
- Social Security
What’s the best part about that list? The fact that it’s just a sampling of the assistance that’s out there, so use it as a starting point to begin diving deeper.
How can you start researching to pinpoint the assistance you need? Search for any of the terms in that list above and put “for seniors” on the end.
Before You Search
You’ll run into a common theme when researching programs for low to moderate-income seniors: Most have age and income requirements. If you can meet those, you may be well on your way to getting a bevy of benefits to make life easier.
Many “senior” programs require that participants be at least 65 years old. Some, however, may offer benefits if you’re as young as 62. Such is the case with some forms of subsidized senior housing.
If the age requirements keep you from being eligible, know that there are programs you may still qualify for based on income, such as Medicaid, Section 8, SNAP, and more.
If all of this seems confusing, your best bet may be to connect with a professional or counselor familiar with the programs you are interested in. You can find all forms of assistance by calling 211. An operator will connect you with local resources for seniors, and you can take it from there.
Another option for immediate assistance is to visit the Eldercare Locator website or call 800-677-1116. They will help you find services for older adults and their families locally.
Mark Luigi
