Benefits
New York Benefits for Older Adults
New York has many programs that can help older adults pay for health care, drugs, food, energy bills, and school taxes on their home. This page lists each kind of help in New York, what it pays for, and where to apply. The state or county 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 New York
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 New York
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.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration |
| How to apply | Online at ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local field office. Use the SSA Office Locator to find your office. |
| Phone | 1-800-772-1213 |
| TTY | 1-800-325-0778 |
| Source | Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Medicaid for Older New Yorkers
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. If you are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, the 2026 limit in New York is $1,836 a month in income for one person and $2,489 for a couple. You can have resources up to $33,038 for one person or $44,796 for a couple. If your income is a bit over the limit, a spenddown program may still help. The local agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Department of Health; local Department of Social Services (HRA in New York City) decides eligibility |
| What it covers | Health care Medicare does not pay for on its own, including long nursing home stays, help at home, some dental care, rides to care, and hospice. |
| How to apply | Apply at your county Department of Social Services, or at HRA in New York City. |
| Limits 2026 | Note: Non-MAGI limits for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled, effective January 1, 2026 (NY Department of Health GIS 26 MA/05). A $20 monthly income disregard also applies. People with income over the limit may still qualify through the Excess Income (spenddown) program.; Resources: Couple: 44796; Individual: 33038; Monthly income: Couple: 2489; Individual: 1836 |
| Source | New York State Department of Health; local Department of Social Services (HRA in New York City) decides eligibility (aging.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New york notes
- People 65 or older, blind, or disabled apply with form DOH-4220 (Access NY) at the local social services office — in New York City, at HRA. Adults under 65 without Medicare apply through NY State of Health.
- New York has expanded Medicaid for adults under 65 up to 138 percent of the poverty level, with no asset test for that group.
Medicare Savings Programs in New York
Medicare Savings Programs help pay your Medicare costs, like the Part B premium, co-pays, and deductibles. New York has two levels. QMB helps people with income up to $1,836 a month for one person and $2,489 for a couple. QI helps people with income up to $2,474 for one person and $3,355 for a couple, and pays the Part B premium. New York does not count your savings or assets for these programs at all. The local agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Department of Health; apply at the local Department of Social Services (HRA in NYC) with form DOH-4328 |
| How to apply | Apply at your county Department of Social Services, or at HRA in New York City, using form DOH-4328. |
| Limits 2026 | QI: Income couple: 3355; Income individual: 2474; With 20 disregard: Couple: 3375; Individual: 2494; QMB: Income couple: 2489; Income individual: 1836; With 20 disregard: Couple: 2509; Individual: 1856; Resources: No asset or resource limit in New York for QMB or QI. |
| Source | New York State Department of Health; apply at the local Department of Social Services (HRA in NYC) with form DOH-4328 (aging.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New york notes
- New York raised its Medicare Savings Program limits in 2023: QMB now goes up to 138 percent of the poverty level and QI up to 186 percent.
- New York has only two Medicare Savings Programs, QMB and QI — there is no separate SLMB tier.
- Getting a Medicare Savings Program signs you up for Extra Help with drug costs on its own.
SNAP Food Benefits in New York
SNAP helps people with low income buy food. Your benefits come on an EBT card that works like a debit card. If you are 60 or older, you may be able to do your interview by phone, and your medical costs may count in a way that raises your benefit. You can own your home and still get SNAP. The local agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA); local Department of Social Services decides |
| How to apply | Apply online through myBenefits, by phone, or at your local Department of Social Services — in New York City, at an HRA SNAP center. |
| Source | New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA); local Department of Social Services decides (otda.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New york notes
- SNAP benefits in New York come on an EBT card.
- Older adults can ask for a phone interview, and medical costs over $35 a month may raise the benefit for households with a member 60 or older or disabled.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in New York
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 federal part pays up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple, and New York adds a state supplement payment on top. 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. Social Security decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration |
| How to apply | Apply with the Social Security Administration online, by phone, or at a field office. |
| Phone | 1-800-772-1213 |
| Federal benefit rate | Couple: 1491; Individual: 994 |
| Resource limits | Couple: 3000; Individual: 2000 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Source | Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
New york notes
- New York adds a State Supplement Program (SSP) payment on top of the federal SSI amount, so the total paid in New York is higher than the federal rate alone. New York itself runs the supplement through OTDA.
Extra Help and EPIC Drug Help in New York
Two programs can lower your drug costs in New York. Extra Help is a federal Medicare program that pays most of your Part D costs if your income and savings are low. EPIC is a New York program for people 65 or older. It works with your Part D plan and helps with premiums and drug costs. EPIC covers people with income up to $75,000 for one person or $100,000 for a couple, which is much higher than Extra Help. You may qualify for one or both. Each program makes its own decision.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration / Medicare (Extra Help); New York State Department of Health (EPIC) |
| How to apply | Apply for Extra Help at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Apply for EPIC through the New York State Department of Health or by calling 1-800-332-3742. |
| Epic | Name: Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC); Facts: EPIC is a New York State program for residents 65 or older that helps pay Medicare Part D drug costs. You must have a Part D plan, and you cannot get full Medicaid., Fee Plan: income up to $20,000 if single or $26,000 if married. Deductible Plan: income $20,001 to $75,000 if single or $26,001 to $100,000 if married., EPIC helps pay the Part D premium for members with income up to $23,000 if single or $29,000 if married., EPIC helpline: 1-800-332-3742. |
| Extra help | Income rule: Income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level; for a household of one in 2026 that is $23,940 a year.; Resource limits 2026: Couple: 33100; Individual: 16590 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Source | Social Security Administration / Medicare (Extra Help); New York State Department of Health (EPIC) (healthweb-back.health.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Energy Help in New York (HEAP)
HEAP helps New York households with low income heat and cool their homes. The regular benefit pays part of one heating bill each year. Emergency HEAP can help fast if you may run out of fuel or your service may be shut off. If you already get SNAP or SSI, you may qualify for HEAP on its own. You apply through your local social services office. The local agency decides if you qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) — Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), through local social services offices |
| How to apply | Apply through your HEAP Local District Contact — your county Department of Social Services, or HRA in New York City. People 60 or older can also get help from the county Office for the Aging or NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871. |
| Facts | The 2025-2026 Regular HEAP benefit opened December 1, 2025. An eligible household gets one regular benefit per program year to help pay for heating., The 2025-2026 Emergency HEAP benefit opened January 2, 2026, for households in danger of running out of fuel or having service shut off. Emergency help has a resource test: under $2,500, or under $3,750 if a household member is 60 or older or under age 6., You may qualify on their own if you get SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Code A SSI., A cooling benefit is also offered in warm months for households with a member 60 or older, under 6, or with a medical need. |
| Source | New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) — Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), through local social services offices (otda.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Property Tax Relief for Older New Yorkers (STAR)
New York lowers school taxes on your home through the STAR program. If you are 65 or older and your combined income is $110,750 or less for 2026, you may get the larger Enhanced STAR break. Starting in 2026, the state checks on its own and upgrades seniors who qualify, so you may not need to file a form. Your town may also cut your home value for tax purposes through the Senior Citizens Exemption. Ask your local assessor what you have and what you may add.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Department of Taxation and Finance / local assessors |
| How to apply | Register for the STAR credit through the Tax Department, or ask your local assessor about the exemptions you have. |
| Facts | The STAR program lowers school property taxes. Basic STAR is for homeowners with income below $250,000. Enhanced STAR gives a larger break to seniors., For Enhanced STAR, at least one owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the benefit year, the home must be your main home, and combined income for 2026 must be $110,750 or less., Starting in 2026, seniors who already get the STAR exemption no longer need to apply to their assessor to move up to Enhanced STAR — the Tax Department checks and upgrades eligible owners on its own., Many towns also offer a Senior Citizens Exemption that cuts the assessed value of the home by up to half for owners 65 or older with low income. The income limit is set by each town. Ask your assessor. |
| Source | New York State Department of Taxation and Finance / local assessors (www.tax.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Aging Services in New York (Offices for the Aging)
County Offices for the Aging help New Yorkers 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. NY Connects is the statewide phone line for this help. Call 1-800-342-9871 and you will be sent to the office for your county. Help is free.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) / county Offices for the Aging |
| How to apply | Call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 to reach the office for your county. |
| Phone | 1-800-342-9871 |
| Facts | Each New York county has an Office for the Aging, and New York City has its own Department for the Aging., These offices give meals, caregiver support, legal help, benefits checks, and help finding care at home., NY Connects is the statewide front door for long-term care help. Call 1-800-342-9871. |
| Source | New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) / county Offices for the Aging (aging.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Free Medicare Counseling in New York (HIICAP / SHIP)
HIICAP is the New York name for SHIP, the free Medicare counseling program. Trained counselors can explain Medicare, compare plans, help with appeals, and check if you may qualify for programs that lower your costs, like the Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, and EPIC. They do not sell insurance. Call 1-800-701-0501 to reach a counselor near you.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) — the New York SHIP, New York State Office for the Aging |
| How to apply | Call 1-800-701-0501 to reach a HIICAP counselor near you. |
| Phone | 1-800-701-0501 |
| Facts | In New York, the federal SHIP program is called HIICAP., Trained counselors give free, unbiased Medicare help through the county Offices for the Aging. They do not sell insurance. |
| Source | Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) — the New York SHIP, New York State Office for the Aging (aging.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Applying for Benefits in New York (Social Services / HRA)
Most New York benefit programs run through your local social services office. In New York City that office is called HRA. Outside the city, it is the county Department of Social Services. You can apply for food help, energy help, Medicaid, and Medicare Savings Programs through that one office. Bring proof of who you are, where you live, your income, and your bank accounts. The agency makes the final decision.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | County Departments of Social Services; Human Resources Administration (HRA) in New York City |
| How to apply | Apply for food and cash help online through myBenefits or Access HRA in New York City. For Medicaid at 65 or older, use form DOH-4220 at the local social services office. One office can check SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, and Medicare Savings Programs. |
| Source | County Departments of Social Services; Human Resources Administration (HRA) in New York City (aging.ny.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Good to know in New York
- Medicaid for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled in New York uses non-MAGI rules: in 2026 the limit is $1,836 a month for one person and $2,489 for a couple, with resources up to $33,038 and $44,796 (NY Department of Health).
- New York Medicare Savings Programs have NO asset limit. QMB goes up to $1,836 a month for one person; QI goes up to $2,474.
- New York has its own drug help for people 65 or older, called EPIC. It works with a Medicare Part D plan and covers income up to $75,000 for one person and $100,000 for a couple.
- Energy help in New York is called HEAP, run by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) through local social services offices.
- Homeowners 65 or older may get the Enhanced STAR break on school taxes. The 2026 income limit is $110,750 (NY Tax Department).
- Free Medicare counseling in New York is called HIICAP. Call 1-800-701-0501.
- In New York City, benefits run through the Human Resources Administration (HRA). Outside the city, they run through the county Department of Social Services.
Free local help
Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: