The National Council on Aging estimates $58 billion in benefits goes unclaimed by older adults every year. Some of it is probably yours.
Key takeaways
- If you qualify for SNAP you very likely qualify for more: Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help and Medicaid carry the most money.
- Each program has its own agency, application and language, which is why an estimated $58 billion goes unclaimed every year.
- Run a screening at BenefitsCheckUp.org, call your Area Agency on Aging, and ask your state Medicaid office about Medicare Savings Programs.
Which three programs should you check first?
If you qualify for SNAP, you very likely qualify for something else. Three programs are worth checking first because they carry the most money:
- Medicare Savings Programs — can pay your Part B premium outright, and sometimes deductibles and coinsurance.2
- Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) — cuts prescription drug costs dramatically.3
- Medicaid — income limits vary by state, and you can have both Medicaid and Medicare.
What help is there with Medicare costs?
Apply through your state Medicaid office, not Medicare. Income and resource limits are higher than most people assume, and several states have loosened or removed the asset test.
From Next Chapter TodayFifteen free guides to the decisions that cost the most.Social Security claiming, Medicare enrollment, SNAP paperwork, taxes in retirement. Fact-checked, printable.Browse the guides →What help is there with utilities and housing?
- LIHEAP — help with heating and cooling bills, and sometimes emergency repairs.4
- Lifeline — a monthly discount on phone or internet service.
- Property tax relief — most states have senior exemptions, freezes, or deferrals that go unclaimed.
- Weatherization assistance — free efficiency work that lowers bills permanently.
Why does so much go unclaimed?
Not because people don't qualify. Because each program has its own agency, its own application, and its own language — and nobody's job is to tell you the full list.
What should you do next?
- Run a free benefits screening — BenefitsCheckUp.org from the National Council on Aging covers thousands of programs at once.1
- Call your Area Agency on Aging — every county has one, and they do exactly this for free.
- Ask your state Medicaid office specifically about Medicare Savings Programs.
- Apply even if you think you're slightly over the limit. Deductions change the math more often than people expect.
Sources
- National Council on Aging — benefits access research
- medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs
- ssa.gov — Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs
- acf.hhs.gov — LIHEAP
By the numbers
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP program data, Data as of October 9, 2026
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Next Chapter Today is not a government website and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any agency. This article is educational and is not individualized legal, medical, tax or financial advice. Confirm your own figures with the agency before you act.
