Benefits
Washington Benefits for Older Adults
Washington has many programs that can help older adults pay for health care, drugs, food, energy bills, and property taxes on their home. This page lists each kind of help in Washington, 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 Washington
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 Washington
Social Security pays monthly benefits to retired workers, people with disabilities, and families of workers who have died. You can apply online, by phone, or at a local office. Bring proof of age, your Social Security number, and recent tax or work records. The Social Security Administration decides if you may qualify and how much you get.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration (SSA) |
| What it covers | Retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, and Medicare enrollment. |
| How to apply | Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office. |
| Source | Social Security Administration (SSA) (www.insurance.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Medicaid for Older Washingtonians (Apple Health Classic)
Medicaid in Washington is called Apple Health. For people 65 or older, blind, or disabled, Apple Health Classic can pay for care that Medicare does not pay for, like long stays in a nursing home, help at home, and hospice. In 2026, the income limit is $994 a month for one person, with resources up to $2,000. Long-term care has a higher income limit of $2,982 a month. The state decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA); DSHS for long-term care |
| What it covers | Health care Medicare does not pay for on its own, including long nursing home stays, help at home through COPES, some dental care, rides to care, and hospice. |
| How to apply | Apply through Washington Connection or Washington Healthplanfinder, or call DSHS at 1-877-501-2233. |
| Limits 2026 | Note: Apple Health Classic Medicaid limits for 2026 (HCA income and resource standards).; Resources: Individual: 2000; Long term care: Note: 300 percent of the 2026 federal SSI rate.; Monthly income individual: 2982; Monthly income: Couple: 1491; Individual: 994 |
| Source | Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA); DSHS for long-term care (assets.washingtonlawhelp.org) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Medicare Savings Programs in Washington
Medicare Savings Programs in Washington help pay Medicare costs, and there is no test of your savings or property. In 2026, QMB goes up to $1,463 a month for one person and pays premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. SLMB goes up to $1,596 and QI-1 up to $1,835, and each pays the Part B premium. The state decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), through Apple Health |
| What it covers | QMB pays Medicare Part A and Part B premiums plus deductibles and coinsurance. SLMB and QI-1 pay the Part B premium only. |
| How to apply | Apply through Washington Connection or call HCA. |
| Limits 2026 | Qi: Couple: 2490; Individual: 1835; Qmb: Couple: 1984; Individual: 1463; Note: Washington standards in effect April 1, 2026 (HCA form 22-500, via Washington LawHelp). Washington has NO asset test for these programs. Income is counted after a $20 deduction per household.; Slmb: Couple: 2165; Individual: 1596 |
| Source | Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), through Apple Health (assets.washingtonlawhelp.org) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Basic Food Benefits in Washington (SNAP)
Basic Food is the Washington name for SNAP. It puts money on a card each month to help buy food. Most households may qualify with gross income up to $2,660 a month for one person. If someone in the home is age 60 or older or has a disability, there is no gross test. The most one person can get is $306 a month. DSHS decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Community Services Offices |
| What it covers | Monthly money on an EBT card to buy food. Washington calls SNAP Basic Food. |
| How to apply | Apply through Washington Connection, by phone at 877-501-2233, or at a DSHS Community Services Office. |
| Limits 2026 27 | Note: Basic Food gross limits at 200 percent of the poverty level, April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (DSHS). Maximum allotments are the federal SNAP amounts for October 2026 to September 2027. Households with a person age 60 or older or with a disability skip the gross test.; Gross monthly: Couple: 3607; Individual: 2660; Max allotment: Couple: 562; Individual: 306 |
| Source | Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Community Services Offices (www.commerce.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Washington
SSI pays each month to people age 65 or older, blind, or disabled who have low income and few savings. The federal rate in 2026 is $994 a month for one person. In Washington, people who get SSI also get Apple Health Medicaid. The Social Security Administration decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration (SSA) |
| What it covers | Monthly payments for people age 65 or older, blind, or disabled who have low income and few resources. SSI recipients in Washington get Apple Health on their own. |
| How to apply | Apply with the Social Security Administration online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office. |
| Limits 2026 | Note: The federal SSI rate for 2026 is $994 a month for one person, which is also the Apple Health Classic Medicaid income standard in Washington (HCA). |
| Source | Social Security Administration (SSA) (assets.washingtonlawhelp.org) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Extra Help With Medicare Drug Costs in Washington
Extra Help lowers the cost of Medicare drug plans. It can pay part of the premium and lower what you pay for each drug. You can apply with Social Security online or by phone. If you get a Medicare Savings Program or SSI, you are signed up on your own. Social Security decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Social Security Administration (SSA); state help through the Insurance Commissioner |
| What it covers | Help paying Medicare Part D drug plan premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. |
| How to apply | Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office. People in a Medicare Savings Program are signed up on their own. |
| Source | Social Security Administration (SSA); state help through the Insurance Commissioner (www.insurance.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Energy Help in Washington (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP in Washington helps pay heating bills. The state Department of Commerce sends the money to local agencies, and the grant is paid to your energy company. Income must be at or below 150 percent of the poverty level. You can get one grant each year. Call your local agency to set up a visit. The agency decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Washington State Department of Commerce, through local community action agencies |
| What it covers | A one-time heating grant paid to your energy company, plus crisis help and weatherization referrals. |
| note | Income limits are set at 150 percent of the federal poverty level (Washington Department of Commerce). The program year runs October 1 to September 30. |
| How to apply | Apply with the local LIHEAP agency for your county. You can get one grant each program year. |
| Source | Washington State Department of Commerce, through local community action agencies (www.commerce.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Property Tax Relief for Older Washington Homeowners
Washington gives property tax relief to homeowners age 61 or older and to people retired due to disability. The program lowers the tax on your main home and freezes its value for tax use in your first year. How much you save depends on your income and your county. Apply with your county assessor. The assessor decides if you may qualify.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Your county assessor, under RCW 84.36.381 and WAC 458-16A-130; Washington Department of Revenue oversees the program |
| What it covers | An exemption that lowers property tax on your main home and freezes its taxable value at the level in your first qualifying year. |
| note | You must be age 61 or older by December 31 of the claim year, or retired due to disability, and own and live in the home. There are three county income thresholds; lower income brings a larger exemption (WAC 458-16A-130). |
| How to apply | Apply with your county assessor by December 31 of the assessment year. |
| Source | Your county assessor, under RCW 84.36.381 and WAC 458-16A-130; Washington Department of Revenue oversees the program (app.leg.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Aging Services in Washington (Area Agencies on Aging)
Area Agencies on Aging in Washington help older adults stay at home. They can set up meals, rides, help with chores, and support for family caregivers. Each area has its own agency. Call yours and tell them what help you need at home. The agency will tell you what you may qualify for.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | DSHS Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and local Area Agencies on Aging |
| What it covers | Meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support, and help finding local services for older adults. |
| How to apply | Call your local Area Agency on Aging or DSHS at 1-877-501-2233. |
| Source | DSHS Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and local Area Agencies on Aging (www.commerce.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Free Medicare Counseling in Washington (SHIBA)
SHIBA gives free Medicare help in Washington. Trained advisors can explain your plan choices, compare drug costs, and help you apply for programs that pay Medicare costs. The help is free and the advisors do not sell plans. SHIBA is run by the state Insurance Commissioner.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA), Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner |
| What it covers | Free, one-on-one help to compare Medicare plans, drug plans, and Medicare Savings Programs. |
| How to apply | Call the Insurance Commissioner's SHIBA help line or a local SHIBA site. |
| Limits 2026 | Note: The Insurance Commissioner lists Medicare Savings Program help for income less than $1,855 a month for one person or $2,510 for a couple, as of April 1, 2026. |
| Source | Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA), Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (www.insurance.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Applying for Benefits in Washington (DSHS and Washington Connection)
You can apply for most Washington benefits in one place. Washington Connection is the state website for Basic Food, Apple Health, and cash help. You can also go in person to a DSHS Community Services Office. Bring proof of who you are, where you live, your income, and your bills. DSHS decides if you may qualify for each program.
| Program details | |
|---|---|
| Agency | Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) |
| What it covers | One place to apply for Basic Food, Apple Health Classic, cash help, and other state benefits. |
| How to apply | Apply online at Washington Connection, by phone at 877-501-2233, or in person at a DSHS Community Services Office. |
| Source | Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) (www.commerce.wa.gov) — checked November 9, 2026 |
Good to know in Washington
- Medicaid in Washington is called Apple Health, run by the Health Care Authority (HCA). Apple Health Classic Medicaid for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled lists income up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a couple, with resources up to $2,000 (HCA income standards, 2026). Long-term care uses a higher income limit of $2,982 a month.
- Washington Medicare Savings Programs have NO asset test. In 2026, after a $20 deduction, QMB goes up to $1,463 a month for one person, SLMB up to $1,596, and QI-1 up to $1,835 (Washington LawHelp, from HCA form 22-500, standards in effect April 1, 2026). The state Office of the Insurance Commissioner lists help up to $1,855 a month for one person.
- Food help in Washington is called Basic Food, the state name for SNAP, run by DSHS. Most households may qualify with gross income up to 200 percent of the poverty level, which is $2,660 a month for one person, and the most one person can get is $306 a month (DSHS standards, October 2026 to September 2027).
- Energy help in Washington is LIHEAP, run by the Department of Commerce through local agencies. Income limits are set at 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and you can get one grant in each program year, October 1 to September 30 (Washington Department of Commerce).
- Washington property tax relief for seniors starts at age 61. State rules (WAC 458-16A-130, under RCW 84.36.381) give an exemption on your main home based on three county income thresholds. Lower income brings a larger exemption, and the home value is frozen at its level in your first qualifying year. County assessors take the application.
Free local help
Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost: