Guide to Benefits for Seniors

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Your important dates

When does my Social Security arrive?

Based on the Social Security Administration’s payment schedule. If a payment is more than 3 business days late, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

Medicare Open Enrollment

October 15 – December 7

Each fall you can switch Medicare Advantage or drug plans. Changes start January 1.

Free, unbiased help choosing a plan: SHIP 1-877-839-2675

Key numbers to know

As of October 2026. Figures checked by the BudgetSeniors Benefits Desk against Social Security, Medicare.gov, USDA and VA.

Social Security raise for 2027: 3.6%Starts with January 2027 payments. The average retirement check goes from about $2,095 to about $2,170 a month.
SSI for one person: $994 a monthAbout $1,030 a month from January 2027.
Medicare Part B premium: $202.90 a monthThe 2026 standard amount. Medicare announces the 2027 amount in November.
Drug cost cap (Part D): $2,100 a yearRises to $2,400 in January 2027. After you reach it, covered drugs cost $0 for the rest of the year.
Extra Help drug copays: $5.10 / $12.65Generic / brand-name drugs. Savings limit $18,090 for one person, $36,100 for a couple.
SNAP food help, one person: Up to $306 a monthMaximum since October 1, 2026. Most seniors get less, based on income and costs.

Scam alerts

Hang up if a caller…

Medicare and Social Security will not call you out of the blue to ask for your number, threaten you, or demand payment.
No real agency asks you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
If a caller says a loved one is in trouble, hang up and call that person yourself.
When in doubt, hang up and call the number on your card or bill.

Lost money or shared personal information? Call the Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-372-8311

Latest warnings from the FTC

Spot scammers impersonating well-known charities and sweepstakesOctober 26, 2026
The FTC is not calling to deactivate your phone numberOctober 22, 2026
Some franchising basics from the FTC’s case against Premier Martial Arts franchisorOctober 19, 2026
How to avoid deceptive sextortion assistance services and find real helpOctober 13, 2026

From the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Alerts.

Phone numbers to keep handy

On a phone, tap a number to call it. All of these are free to call.

Medicare1-800-633-4227Plans, bills and coverage questions. Open 24 hours.
Social Security1-800-772-1213Payments, benefits and replacing a card.
Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)1-877-839-2675Unbiased help choosing a plan. Not selling anything.
Eldercare Locator1-800-677-1116Meals, rides, home care and caregiver help near you.
Elder Fraud Hotline1-833-372-8311Report a scam or get help if you lost money.
Heating and energy bill help1-866-674-6327National Energy Assistance Referral (LIHEAP).
Veterans benefits (VA)1-800-827-1000Pensions, Aid and Attendance, health care.
Local help211Food, housing, utilities and rides in your area.
Suicide and crisis line988Call or text any time, day or night.

Guide to benefits for seniors

Need help finding the best Medicare plans, cheapest prescription programs, or affordable home services in your area?

Just ask our friendly Budget Assistant right on this page. It’s like having a smart, caring advisor at your side — ready 24/7 to answer your questions.

Whether you’re exploring:

💊 Low-cost prescriptions and free medication programs
🏠 Affordable housing, home repair grants, and utilities help
🍲 Free meal delivery and food banks near you
🚗 Senior transportation and mobility services
💰 Government benefits and community resources
🩺 Healthcare and dental plans that fit your budget

… your Assistant will guide you step-by-step, with up-to-date, no-nonsense answers you can trust.

Senior Benefits Finder

Tell us your situation and we’ll show you which government benefits you’re likely missing, what each is worth, and the exact number to call.

✔ BudgetSeniors.com · Updated October 15

Reviewed by the BudgetSeniors Benefits Desk
Every figure checked against SSA, Medicare.gov, USDA, IRS & VA

Just announced: Social Security & SSI +3.6% starting January · Avg retirement check → $2,170 · Medicare Open Enrollment: Oct 15 – Dec 7 · SNAP max now $306/mo · Part D drug cap rises to $2,400 in January

$2,435 a year, sitting unclaimed.
When we ran a test profile through this tool, a 67-year-old widow renting on $1,550 a month, it flagged a Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help and SNAP. The Part B premium relief alone is worth $2,435 a year, and none of it arrives unless she applies.

3.6%

January raise, about $75 for the average retiree

$202.90

Part B premium a Savings Program can pay for you

$2,400

Next year’s Part D out-of-pocket cap

$306

Top SNAP benefit for one person

📌 Quick answers before you start

Is the January raise official?Yes. SSA set it at 3.6%. The average retirement check goes from about $2,095 to $2,170.
Will Medicare take part of it?Probably a little. Next year’s Part B premium isn’t out yet; the Medicare trustees projected about $209.50, roughly $6.60 more than now.
Does my IRA or 401(k) count against me?For Extra Help, Savings Programs and SSI, yes. For SNAP, retirement accounts don’t count.
Can one approval unlock another?Yes. Get into any Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help for prescriptions comes automatically.
I’m 62 and on SNAP. Do I have to work now?Possibly. The work rule now reaches age 64: 80 hours a month of work, training or volunteering unless you’re exempt. At 65 you’re out of it.
Is the $6,000 senior deduction automatic?No. You claim it on your return. It shrinks above $75,000 of income ($150,000 for couples), and if Social Security is your only income you likely owe no federal tax anyway.
Is there heating help this winter?Yes. About $3.6 billion has been released to states. Local money runs out, so apply early.
What should I do this week?Compare drug plans before December 7. A federal subsidy that held down stand-alone Part D premiums ends after this year.

Step 1 of 3

👤 What best describes your situation?

Your age group Many programs have different rules for different age groups.

Who’s in your household?

What is your approximate monthly income? Social Security, pensions, part-time work. Couples: add both together.

Know the exact amount? Type it for a sharper estimate:

Monthly income limit by programYou: $1,550, under 0 of 8 lines

SNAP for 60+ households is judged on income after deductions like rent and medical bills, so you can sit above that bar and still qualify. Some states set higher Savings Program limits or skip the asset test.

Step 2 of 3

🏠 Check all that apply to you

Step 3 of 3

✅ Which of these do you already receive?

We’ll skip these and focus only on what you’re missing.

Benefits You May Be Missing

💰 Estimated Yearly Value

$0

This is a screening, not an approval. Savings, state rules and household details change the answer; the agency always decides.

🧭 Pick the situation that sounds like yours

These are the moments when seniors lose the most money by not asking, with the first move for each.

Drug bills jumped this year

Shop your plan before December 7, then apply for Extra Help

A federal program that kept stand-alone Part D premiums in check ends after this year, the drug cap rises to $2,400 and the top deductible climbs from $615 to $700. Your Annual Notice of Change shows what your plan is doing; Medicare’s Plan Finder shows what else is out there. With income near $2,000 a month (about $2,725 for a couple) and savings under $18,090 ($36,100 couples), Extra Help caps copays at $5.10 generic and $12.65 brand-name.

Plan switch starts January 1📞 Medicare 1-800-633-4227 📞 Free SHIP counselor 1-877-839-2675

⚠️ Scam season: Medicare doesn’t cold-call to sell plans. If a caller asks for your Medicare number to “lock in” a deal, hang up.

Age 60 to 64 and on SNAP

The SNAP work rule now reaches your age group

Under the July 2025 budget law, people under 65 without a dependent child get only three months of SNAP in three years unless they log 80 hours a month of work, job training or volunteering, or prove an exemption. Being unable to work for health reasons or caring for someone with a disability can count. Get a doctor’s note on file before the third month.

3 months, then cutoffVolunteering counts📞 Dial 211 for your SNAP office

Needing daily help at home

VA Aid & Attendance, PACE and Medicaid home care

A wartime veteran who needs help bathing or dressing can receive up to $2,424 a month, or $2,874 with a spouse; a surviving spouse up to $1,558. The VA subtracts your income only after deducting unreimbursed medical and caregiving costs, which is why many people who assume they’re over the limit aren’t. Net worth must stay under $163,699, home and car excluded. Not a veteran? PACE, for people 55+ who need nursing-home-level care, covers doctors, drugs, day center and rides, usually with no premium if you also have Medicaid.

Up to $34,488/yr for a veteran with spouse📞 VA 1-800-827-1000

⚠️ Watch for “free” pension advisers who charge to move your assets. The VA penalizes transfers made within three years of applying. Accredited VA representatives help with claims free.

Just lost a spouse

Don’t let the first Social Security form decide for you

Survivor benefits can start as early as 60 at a reduced rate. Because survivor and retirement benefits are separate, many widows and widowers take one first and switch to the other later. Your household also just became one person, so rerun the finder with single-person limits; programs your joint income ruled out may now open up.

Survivor benefit from age 60📞 SSA 1-800-772-1213

House-rich, cash-poor

Property tax breaks first, reverse mortgage last

Senior property tax relief usually takes a one-time application that many people never file. Texas now exempts $200,000 of a 65-plus homeowner’s value from school taxes and freezes that school tax bill. Florida lets counties and cities exempt up to $50,000 more for lower-income seniors. A reverse mortgage (HECM) can come later, but federal rules require HUD-approved counseling first, because fees and the loan balance grow against your equity.

Often $1,000+ a year savedUsually file once

Dreading the heating bill

Apply for LIHEAP now, weatherization next

States received about 90% of this year’s LIHEAP money at the start of the fiscal year under a stopgap budget, and the White House has again proposed ending the program next year. Local agencies pay first-come, first-served. Separately, weatherization crews insulate, seal and repair heating systems for free, for owners and renters, up to 200% of poverty (about $2,660 a month for one person).

Avg weatherization job ~$6,500📞 Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116

Turning 65 soon

Your Medicare window is seven months, and missing it costs you for life

Your first sign-up chance starts three months before your 65th birthday month and ends three months after. Without other qualifying coverage, each full year you delay Part B adds 10% to the premium permanently. Already on Social Security? Enrollment is automatic; otherwise you have to act.

10% per year late penalty📞 SSA 1-800-772-1213

⚖️ Compare the big programs side by side

Federal limits for one person this year. Couples’ limits are higher; some states go higher still.

Program	Monthly income line	Savings limit	What you get	Apply at
QMB (Savings Program)	$1,350	$9,950	Part B premium plus Medicare deductibles & copays	State Medicaid office
SLMB / QI	$1,616 / $1,816	$9,950	Part B premium, $2,435 a year	State Medicaid office
Extra Help	About $2,015	$18,090	$5.10 / $12.65 copays, $0 premium on basic plans	SSA or state
SSI	About $1,014	$2,000	Up to $994/mo, about $1,030 from January	SSA
SNAP (60+ household)	$1,330 after deductions	$4,750	Up to $306/mo for groceries	State SNAP agency
LIHEAP	About $1,995 or 60% state median	Set by state	Heating or cooling payment	Community action agency
Weatherization	About $2,660	No federal test	Free insulation, sealing, heating repairs	State weatherization agency
VA Pension + A&A	Below $2,424 after medical costs	$163,699 net worth	Up to $2,424/mo ($2,874 with spouse)	VA or accredited rep

QMB (Savings Program)

Income: $1,350
Savings: $9,950
You get: Part B premium + deductibles & copays
Apply: State Medicaid office

SLMB / QI

Income: $1,616 / $1,816
Savings: $9,950
You get: Part B premium, $2,435/yr
Apply: State Medicaid office

Extra Help

Income: About $2,015
Savings: $18,090
You get: $5.10 / $12.65 copays
Apply: SSA or state

SSI

Income: About $1,014
Savings: $2,000
You get: Up to $994/mo now
Apply: SSA

SNAP (60+ household)

Income: $1,330 after deductions
Savings: $4,750
You get: Up to $306/mo
Apply: State SNAP agency

LIHEAP

Income: About $1,995 or 60% state median
Savings: Set by state
You get: Energy bill payment
Apply: Community action agency

Weatherization

Income: About $2,660
Savings: No federal test
You get: Free home energy repairs
Apply: State weatherization agency

VA Pension + A&A

Income: Below $2,424 after medical costs
Net worth: $163,699
You get: Up to $2,424/mo
Apply: VA or accredited rep

🔗 One approval can unlock three

We found the paperwork is uneven: some approvals pull others in automatically. Start with the program highest up the chain that fits you.

Solid arrows are automatic. The dashed arrow means many states accept SNAP as proof of income for energy and weatherization help.

💵 The claiming-age decision you only get once

Not on Social Security yet? This matters more than any program above. Claiming at 62 cuts your check by 30% for life; waiting past full retirement age adds 8% a year until 70. For a top earner this year, that’s $2,969 versus $5,181 a month, about $26,500 a year.

Highest possible monthly benefits this year for a worker who earned the taxable maximum. Yours scale with your own record at ssa.gov/myaccount.

On the trust fund: the trustees’ latest report says the retirement fund can pay full benefits until late 2032 and about 78% after that unless Congress acts. That’s a reason to plan, not to grab the smallest check early.

Can’t be undone after 12 months+8% a year past full age📞 SSA 1-800-772-1213

📊 Key Benefit Numbers at a Glance

$2,095

$2,170 in January

Avg Social Security retirement check / mo

$5,181

top earner, age 70

Max SS benefit / mo

$202.90

new rate due November

Medicare Part B premium / mo

$2,100

$2,400 in January

Part D yearly drug cap

$306

since October 1

Max SNAP benefit / mo (individual)

$994

about $1,030 on Dec 31

SSI monthly payment (individual)

$24,150

$47,500 for 65+ couples

Total deduction at 65+, single, with $6,000 bonus

$2,874

$2,424 single veteran

VA Aid & Attendance / mo (with spouse)

$6,500

renters qualify too

Avg free weatherization per home

📞 AARP Tax-Aide 1-888-227-7669 📞 IRS VITA/TCE 1-800-906-9887

📍 Find Local Senior Resources Near You

Tap a button and allow location to center the map on you. Every office listed is free and government-funded.

📞 Numbers Every Senior Should Have Saved

Medicare 1-800-633-4227 Social Security 1-800-772-1213 Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 SHIP 1-877-839-2675 VA 1-800-827-1000 Local services 211

⚠️ Almost Nothing Here Is Automatic

The government won’t call to offer these programs. You apply, and many require renewal (QI every year). Extra Help is the exception once you’re on Medicaid, SSI or a Savings Program. Apply as soon as you think you qualify; heating money and weatherization slots go first-come, first-served.

Key sources: Social Security Administration, Medicare.gov / CMS, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs. For information only; eligibility varies by state and individual circumstances.

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Questions about this website

Is the chat assistant a real person?

No. It is an AI assistant that answers from our guides and public program rules. It can explain options and point you to the right office, but it cannot see your records or apply for benefits for you. Check important answers with the agency.

Is this a government website?

No. Budget Seniors is a privately owned website. We are not part of Social Security, Medicare or any government agency, and we never ask for your Social Security or Medicare number.

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About Budget Seniors

Budget Seniors is a free, privately owned guide that helps older adults and their families find benefits, cut costs and avoid scams. We are not affiliated with Social Security, Medicare or any government agency. We never ask for your Social Security, Medicare or bank numbers. The site is supported by advertising, which is always labeled.

Page last reviewed October 27, 2026. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Questions or corrections? Contact us.

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