Many older adults who don’t think they qualify end up getting approved for benefits, or programs that help them save money and afford every day living expenses. One example is John Smith, age 70. 

John Smith's story to receiving food assistance

Smith told a benefits counselor partnered with NCOA that, after paying a big tax bill, he had no savings or income other than his monthly Social Security payment. When another person at his local senior center applied for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and was successful, Smith decided to apply, too.

I was surprised at how easy it was to apply for SNAP and how quickly I started receiving my $200 benefit," Smith said.

Harry's story to receiving food assistance and health care cost savings

Harry, 68, is another person who really needed financial assistance. He hadn’t expected the unwelcome detour his life took shortly after retirement. He and his wife hadn’t planned for it, either. So, when Harry suffered a devastating brain injury and his wife had to leave her job to care for him full time, their finances quickly fell into crisis.

Harry (we changed his name to respect his privacy) previously had been enrolled in Medicare Part B during an earlier retirement; but he lost that coverage after deciding to re-enter the workforce. It was a struggle simply to stay afloat. The couple nearly gave up when Social Security lost Harry’s file and all the important paperwork that went with it.

Eventually, Harry and his wife were able to speak to a benefits counselor at Legal Services for the Elderly. In the end, the counselor helped Harry and his wife apply for food assistance benefits through SNAP, as well as a Medicare Savings Program (MSP).

Their counselor explained that by getting Harry into an MSP, the program would reinstate his Medicare Part B coverage. Even better, the state would pay any penalty (if he received one) for not having Part B in place. The MSP Harry qualified for—the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB)—would cover all of his Medicare co-payments and premiums. It would also automatically qualify him for Part D Extra Help.

Harry’s wife was delighted that the counselor helped them realize a potential annual savings of $7,175.

These programs will give us some relief, so we don’t have to worry about money so much. We’re so thankful for the help,” Harry's wife said.

How NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp® can help you find money-savings programs

NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp® is a free, confidential online tool that helps older adults and people with disabilities find benefits programs they might be eligible for depending on their location. 

How we help match you with benefits that can help you save money

1. Answer some questions to get more information. Start browsing benefits by entering your ZIP code and choose the categories that you're most interested in. Once you have made your selections and click next, you'll have the ability to review your initial results or enter more details to further personalize your options. For programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps), the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy, and Medicare Savings Programs, among others, additional information may be required to determine your eligibility. 
2. Check to see if you qualify or if  further information is required. When clicking 'See If You May Be Eligible', our free, confidential tool will ask you additional questions to help determine your eligibility and will provide you with a personalized report. Once your 'Eligibility Results' report has been created, you can view it as a PDF, email it, go back and edit your answers, and you also have the option to screen for someone else.
3. Find out how to apply or view more information on the agency's website. Now that you have your personalized benefits report, you have the option to apply online through the agency's website by clicking 'Apply Online', view more info about the program, or use the contact information provided to call the agency directly.

If you're having trouble determining your next step, you can always speak to a BenefitsCheckUp support specialist through our website's chat feature, calling our Benefits HelpLine at 1-800-794-6559, or you may find talking to a benefits enrollment specialist helpful.