Retirement Planning
Benefits Checkup: Programs That May Help Older Adults
How families can look for benefit programs for food, prescriptions, utilities, transportation, taxes, and long-term care support.
Many older adults miss programs that could help with food, prescriptions, utilities, transportation, property taxes, caregiving, or long-term services. A benefits review is especially important after retirement, widowhood, disability, relocation, or a major health change.
Where to start
The Eldercare Locator connects families with local aging services. ACL also points caregivers to BenefitsCheckUp through its caregiver nutrition and support resources on the Caregivers page.
Programs to ask about
- Food assistance and home-delivered meals.
- Prescription drug help and Medicare Savings Programs.
- Utility assistance and weatherization.
- Transportation and paratransit.
- Property tax relief or rent support.
- Caregiver respite and adult day services.
Keep records
Track application dates, case numbers, renewal deadlines, required documents, and contact names. Benefits can be lost when renewal notices are missed.