Benefits

Florida Benefits for Older Adults

Florida has many programs that can help older adults pay for health care, food, energy bills, and taxes on their home. This page lists each kind of help in Florida, what it pays for, and where to apply. The state agency makes the final decision on who gets help. You may qualify even if you own your home or get Social Security.

Kinds of benefits in Florida

The agency decides who qualifies. The limits below are the published figures — use them to see whether applying is worth your time.

Social Security in Florida

Social Security pays monthly benefits to retired workers, people with disabilities, and family members of workers who have died. Field offices can help you apply, replace a card, change your benefit information, and apply for Extra Help with drug costs. Many tasks can be done online or by phone at 1-800-772-1213.

Medicaid for Older Floridians (MEDS-AD)

Medicaid can pay for care that Medicare does not pay for, like long stays in a nursing home, help at home, some dental care, and hospice. In Florida, full Medicaid for older adults is called MEDS-AD. The state limit is $1,171 a month in income for one person and $1,588 for a couple, with assets up to $5,000 and $6,000. If you get SSI, you get Medicaid on its own. The state decides if you qualify.

Florida notes

• SSI-Related Medicaid is the Florida name for Medicaid based on age or disability.
• People who get SSI get Medicaid on its own (DCF).
• Florida has not expanded Medicaid for adults without disabilities.

Medicare Savings Programs in Florida

Medicare Savings Programs help pay your Medicare costs, like the Part B premium, co-pays, and deductibles. QMB helps people with the lowest incomes. In Florida the QMB limit is $1,330 a month for one person and $1,804 for a couple, with resources up to $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple. You apply through the Department of Children and Families, and the state decides if you qualify.

Florida notes

• Figures are the Florida DCF standards (Appendix A-9.1, April 2026).
• In Florida you apply for a Medicare Savings Program with the Medicaid/Medicare Buy-In application through DCF — not at a Social Security office (DCF).
• Getting a Medicare Savings Program signs you up for Extra Help with drug costs on its own (DCF).

Food Assistance (SNAP) in Florida

The Food Assistance Program helps people with low income buy food. In Florida it is run by the Department of Children and Families through ACCESS Florida. Your benefits come on an EBT card. Older adults may have some costs, like medical bills, counted in a way that raises the benefit. The state decides if you qualify.

Florida notes

• Florida calls SNAP the Food Assistance Program. Benefits come on an EBT card.
• You can apply for Food Assistance, Medicaid, and cash help with one ACCESS Florida application (DCF).

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Florida

SSI pays monthly cash to people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have very little income and few resources. For 2026, the most SSI pays is $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. Your resources must be $2,000 or less for one person, or $3,000 for a couple. The home you live in does not count. In Florida, people on SSI get Medicaid on its own. Social Security decides if you qualify.

Florida notes

• People who get SSI in Florida are eligible for Medicaid on their own, with no separate ACCESS Florida application unless nursing home services are needed (DCF).

Extra Help With Medicare Drug Costs in Florida

Extra Help is a Medicare program that pays most of your Part D drug plan costs. You may qualify if your income is below 150 percent of the poverty level and your savings are under the limit. For 2026, the resource limit is $16,590 for one person and $33,100 for a couple. If you have Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program in Florida, you get Extra Help on its own.

Energy Help in Florida (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, called LIHEAP, helps Florida households with low income pay part of their electric or heating bills. It can also help fast if you get a shut-off notice. Local agencies in each county take the applications. You may qualify even if you rent. The local agency decides if you qualify.

Florida notes

• LIHEAP helps low-income households pay home energy bills, and can help in an energy crisis, like a shut-off notice.
• Local community action agencies take the applications in most Florida counties.

Property Tax Relief for Older Floridians

Florida lowers property taxes on the home you live in through the homestead exemption, worth up to $50,000 off the value the tax is based on. If you are 65 or older and your income is low, your county may give you an added exemption. Apply with your county property appraiser by March 1. The state and county decide if you qualify.

Florida notes

• Florida gives a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 on a main home, which lowers the tax bill. Apply with your county property appraiser by March 1.
• Homeowners age 65 or older with low household income may get an added exemption through their county. Ask your property appraiser what your county offers.
• The Save Our Homes rule limits how fast the assessed value of a homestead can rise each year.

Aging Services in Florida (Area Agencies on Aging)

Area Agencies on Aging are local offices that help Floridians age 60 and older and the people who care for them. They can help you find meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support, and benefits you may have missed. Help is free. Your local agency is the first call when you do not know where to start.

Florida notes

• Area Agencies on Aging help Floridians age 60 and older find meals, rides, help at home, and caregiver support.
• The Department of Elder Affairs runs the statewide Elder Helpline through the local aging agencies.

Free Medicare Counseling in Florida (SHINE / SHIP)

SHINE is the Florida name for SHIP, the free Medicare counseling program. Trained volunteers can explain Medicare, compare plans, help with appeals, and check if you may qualify for programs that lower your costs. They do not sell insurance. Ask your local Area Agency on Aging for a SHINE site near you.

Florida notes

• In Florida, the federal SHIP program is called SHINE.
• Trained volunteers give free, unbiased Medicare help at local sites, often through the Area Agencies on Aging. They do not sell insurance.

Applying for Benefits in Florida (ACCESS Florida / DCF)

Most Florida benefit programs run through one agency, the Department of Children and Families, through ACCESS Florida. You can apply for food help, Medicaid, and Medicare Savings Programs in one place. You can also apply at a local service center. Bring proof of who you are, where you live, your income, and your bank accounts. The agency makes the final decision.

Good to know in Florida

• The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs Florida Medicaid. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) decides who qualifies, through ACCESS Florida.
• Full Medicaid for older adults in Florida is called MEDS-AD. DCF lists the limit at $1,171 a month for one person and $1,588 for a couple, with assets up to $5,000 and $6,000 (DCF Appendix A-9).
• People who get SSI in Florida get Medicaid on its own, with no separate application unless nursing home care is needed (DCF).
• Florida has not expanded Medicaid for low-income adults without disabilities.
• Free Medicare counseling in Florida is called SHINE, run through the Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agencies on Aging.
• Food help in Florida is called Food Assistance, run by DCF through ACCESS Florida.

Free local help

Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: