Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in New York. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
State guide
Senior benefits in New York
What each program is called in New York, who qualifies here, what it pays and how to apply. Every figure links to the agency page it came from.
Medicare and health costs
5 programsNew York's Medicare Savings Program has two parts: QMB, which pays your Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance, and QI, which pays your Part B premium.
New York Medicaid
Income limit: $1,836 a month (138% of the poverty level), or $1,856 counting the $20 that isn't countedNew York rulesNew York Medicaid can pay a wide range of care for people 65 and older with Medicare, plus Medicare premiums, coinsurance and deductibles.
New York's Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program, called HIICAP, gives free, accurate and objective Medicare help.
PACE
Federal rules shownAll your Medicare and Medicaid care from one team, including rides, meals and home care, for people 55+ who need a nursing-home level of care.
VA health care
Same in every stateMedical care, prescriptions and some dental and long-term care for enrolled veterans.
Prescription costs
4 programsNew York's EPIC program helps people 65 and older pay for prescriptions after their Medicare drug plan pays.
Extra Help with drug costs
Same in every stateLowers your Part D premium, deductible and copays. You get it automatically with Medicaid, SSI or a Medicare Savings Program.
A yearly limit on what you pay for covered drugs.
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Same in every stateA temporary program that lowers the copay for certain weight-loss drugs, outside your regular Part D plan.
Income and Social Security
6 programsState Supplement Program
Extra each month: The amount that brings SSI up to $1,081 a month in totalNew York rulesNew York adds a monthly State Supplement Program payment, called SSP, to federal SSI.
A monthly payment for people 65+ with little income and savings. You don't need a work history.
Social Security retirement
Same in every stateYour monthly benefit from your work record. When you claim changes how much you get for life.
SSDI (disability)
Same in every stateMonthly disability benefits from your work record. Switches to retirement benefits at full retirement age.
Survivor and spousal benefits
Same in every stateBenefits from a spouse's or ex-spouse's work record. Often missed, especially after a divorce or a death.
Social Security Fairness Act
Same in every stateEnded the WEP and GPO reductions for teachers, police, firefighters and others with public pensions.
Food
4 programsNew York's SNAP puts a monthly amount on an EBT card to help you buy groceries.
Senior food box (CSFP)
Federal rules shownA free monthly box of food through local food banks, for people 60+. You can get it alongside SNAP.
Senior Farmers' Market coupons
Federal rules shownSeasonal coupons for fresh produce at farmers' markets. Limited and first-come.
Meals on Wheels and senior meals
Federal rules shownHome-delivered and group meals for people 60+, with no income test.
Housing and home repair
3 programsHousing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
Federal rules shownHelps pay rent so you pay about 30% of your income. Waiting lists are long, so apply to more than one.
Section 202 senior housing
Federal rules shownSubsidized apartments for very-low-income households with someone 62+. You apply at each building.
USDA home repair loans and grants
Federal rules shownLow-interest loans and, for people 62+, grants to fix health and safety hazards in rural homes.
Utilities and phone
3 programsNew York's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) gives one regular heating benefit per season, and an Emergency HEAP benefit if your heat is shut off or you are about to run out of fuel.
Weatherization Assistance
Federal rules shownFree insulation, sealing and heating repairs that lower your energy bills for good.
Lifeline phone and internet discount
Same in every stateA monthly discount on phone or internet service. The bigger ACP discount ended in 2024.
Taxes
5 programsProperty tax relief
New York rules3 programs: Enhanced STAR (School Tax Relief), Senior Citizens Exemption and Real Property Tax Credit (Form IT-214).
An extra deduction for each person 65+, for tax years 2025 to 2028, whether or not you itemize.
Higher standard deduction at 65
Same in every stateA larger standard deduction once you turn 65, and more if you are blind.
Free tax help (VITA, TCE, Tax-Aide)
Same in every stateFree tax preparation from trained volunteers, with a program just for people 60+.
Taxes on Social Security
Same in every stateWhether your benefits are taxed depends on your other income. Many people owe nothing.
Getting to appointments
1 programRides to medical appointments
Federal rules shownFree or reimbursed rides through Medicaid, your local Area Agency on Aging, or the VA.
Care at home and caregivers
3 programsMedicaid care at home (HCBS waivers)
Federal rules shownPersonal care, adult day programs and home changes so you can stay home instead of moving to a nursing home.
A tax-free monthly payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities.
Family caregiver support
Federal rules shownRespite care, counseling and training for family caregivers, including grandparents raising grandchildren.
Work and legal help
2 programsSenior job program (SCSEP)
Federal rules shownPaid part-time community-service work and job training for people 55+ with low incomes.
Free legal help, ombudsman and elder abuse reports
Federal rules shownFree legal aid, a nursing-home complaint line in every state, and Adult Protective Services.
Free help
Talk to someone in New York
New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.