Help with groceries, heating and Medicare bills is out there for retirees, but getting it is the hard part. How to save thousands now

Collectively, NCOA says that an estimated $58 billion in benefits that could help to pay for daily essentials are being left on the table.

The NCOA says that many older adults may incorrectly believe that they don’t qualify for these benefits programs, while others may not even know they exist

Thousands in potential help

For those low-income older adults who aren’t collecting benefits they’re eligible for, the dollar amounts being left on the table are significant.

The NCOA data looks at three benefit programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs).

Just 38% of eligible individuals age 65+ participated in SNAP in 2023, the NCOA found. That means an estimated 9.1 million eligible people didn’t claim benefits that could have helped them put food on the table.

That’s $188 a month, or $2,256 a year, in SNAP benefits that people are missing out on (based on the 2023 average benefit amount for households with a 60+ adult).

For SSI, 40% of those eligible participated in 2023, meaning 3.6 million people left those benefits on the table. That amounts to $552.29 a month, or $6,627.48 a year, based on the December 2023 average for adults 65+.

And for MSPs, which help cover Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-insurance, 49% of those eligible claimed benefits, meaning 6.6 million people weren’t enrolled. That’s $164.90 a month unclaimed, or $1,978.80 a year, based on the standard Part B premium for 2023.

All told, for someone who qualified for all three benefits programs, based on 2023 benefit levels, that’s $10,862.28 a year to help cover life’s essentials.

There’s other help for low-income older adults available as well. Those who qualify for the Medicare Savings Program, and those who receive SSI, also automatically qualify for the Extra Help program, which helps pay for Medicare drug coverage (Part D) and other costs.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help with energy bills for low-income individuals. This program is administered at the state level.

Why are benefits left unclaimed?

Older adults may encounter several barriers to applying for benefits programs.

Tiara Green, president of nonprofit Accessia Health, told the Washington Post that those in need of assistance programs can face difficulty managing paperwork — different applications and eligibility requirements for different programs, and different government agencies.

“The larger problem is that the assistance system is fragmented,” Green said.

Courtney Bragg, co-founder and CEO of Fabric Health, referred to the array of assistance programs as an “alphabet soup” in the Post’s report, and highlighted that older adults are susceptible to fraudsters when it comes to benefits.

Bragg noted this can be especially true during open enrollment periods for benefits, flagging the “the predatory environment for seniors.”

For those older adults seeking assistance, Bragg recommends starting with official government resources, or trusted organizations.

Where to get help

The NCOA has a benefits search tool you can use to see what programs you could be eligible for. There is also a help line, those who wish to use the telephone (1-800-794-6559).