Benefits for seniors in New York

Medicaid for people 65 and over

People who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled are judged under special Medicaid rules. For 2026:

• Income must be at or below 138% of the federal poverty level: $1,836 a month for one person or $2,489 for two. Medicaid takes $20 off your gross income first.
• Savings and other resources must be at or below $33,038 for one person or $44,796 for two. You can own a home, a car and personal belongings and still qualify.
• Income a little too high? The Excess Income (spenddown) program can still help. Each month you show medical bills equal to the amount you are over, or pay that amount to your local social services office. Then Medicaid covers the rest of that month's care.

If you also have Medicare, Medicaid pays your Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance.

Long-term care. Medicaid can pay for nursing home care and care at home. Most adults with Medicare and Medicaid who need home care for more than 120 days must join a Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) plan. First, the New York Independent Assessor checks your needs. Call 855-222-8350 (TTY 1-888-329-1541) to ask for an assessment. If your spouse stays at home, your spouse can keep between $74,820 and $162,660 in resources and up to $4,066.50 a month in income in 2026.

Gifts and transfers. For nursing home care, Medicaid looks back 60 months at money or property you gave away. New York has proposed a 30-month look-back for home care. Ask your local office whether it applies to you.

Estate recovery. After death, New York may seek repayment from the estate of a person who got Medicaid at 55 or older, or who lived permanently in a nursing home.

Help paying Medicare costs

New York's Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are more generous than the federal rules. For 2026 there are two:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): pays your Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. Income limit: 138% of the poverty level, or $1,836 a month for one person and $2,489 for a couple.
• Qualifying Individual (QI): pays your Part B premium. Income limit: 186% of the poverty level, or $2,474 a month for one person and $3,355 for a couple. You must have Part A. You cannot get QI and Medicaid at the same time.

Since January 2023, New York's QMB limit has covered people who would fall in the federal SLMB group, so there is no separate SLMB list.

No asset test. State law removed the asset test for these programs, and the application does not ask about savings. Some income is not counted, so apply even if you are a little over.

Extra Help comes with it. If you get QMB or QI, you also get Extra Help with Medicare drug costs.

How to apply: mail form DOH-4328 to your county Department of Social Services, or apply online through NY State of Health. In New York City, you can also apply through HRA.

Prescription drug help

EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) is New York's drug program for residents 65 and over. It works with a Medicare Part D plan. You must have Part D or be able to get it.

• Who qualifies: yearly income up to $75,000 if single or $100,000 if married.
• Fee Plan: for income up to $20,000 single or $26,000 married. You pay a yearly fee of $8 to $300, based on last year's income. EPIC pays your Part D premium up to $58.82 a month in 2026.
• Deductible Plan: for higher incomes. You meet a yearly EPIC deductible of $530 to $3,215 first. EPIC also helps with Part D premiums if your income is up to $23,000 single or $29,000 married.
• At the pharmacy: after any Part D deductible, you pay $3 to $20 per drug, based on its cost.

Apply any time by mail or fax; you usually do not need to send papers. EPIC Helpline: 1-800-332-3742 (TTY 1-800-290-9138).

Extra state payment with SSI

New York adds a State Supplement Program (SSP) payment to federal SSI. In 2026, a person living alone gets up to $87 a month from the state, for a total of $1,081 with SSI. A couple living alone gets up to $104, for a total of $1,595. A person living with others gets $23. People in some supervised housing get more.

New York State, not Social Security, pays the SSP as a separate payment. SSP Customer Support: 1-855-488-0541.

Food help

New York calls food stamps SNAP. If all adults in your household are 60 or older or disabled, and no one has earnings from work, you can use a shorter application (form LDSS-5166). These households can go up to 36 months between renewals and do not need a renewal interview unless they ask for one.

Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov, at your local Department of Social Services, or call the OTDA Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.

Farmers market coupons. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives a $25 booklet of produce coupons to people 60 and over with income up to 185% of the poverty level. Contact your county Office for the Aging. In New York City, call 311.

Help staying at home

• Medicaid home care: usually through a Managed Long Term Care plan. Options include PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), for people 55 and over who need nursing home level care and live in a PACE service area. PACE is not offered everywhere.
• Choose your own aide (CDPAP): Medicaid members who qualify for home care can hire their own aide, including a friend or family member, but not a spouse. All CDPAP members work with one statewide company, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL): 1-833-247-5346.
• EISEP (Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly): for people 60 and over who are not eligible for Medicaid and need help with daily tasks. Some people pay part of the cost.
• NY Connects: free help finding long-term care services. Call 1-800-342-9871 or visit nyconnects.ny.gov.

Property tax and housing help

• Enhanced STAR: a bigger school tax break when at least one owner who lives in the home is 65 or older by December 31 of the benefit year. Income limit: $110,750 for 2026 benefits and $113,550 for 2027 benefits. From 2026, the state moves you from Basic to Enhanced STAR automatically when you qualify.
• Senior citizens exemption: many towns, cities, counties and school districts cut the taxable value of a senior's home by up to 50%. All owners generally must be 65 or older and have owned the home for 12 months. Each community sets its own income limit, up to $50,000 for the full cut, so ask your assessor. Outside New York City, file form RP-467, usually by March 1. In New York City, apply to the Department of Finance for the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE).
• Real property tax credit (IT-214): if someone in your household is 65 or older, you may get up to $375. Your federal adjusted gross income must be $18,000 or less, and your home worth $85,000 or less, or your rent $450 a month or less. You can file it even if you do not file a tax return.
• NYC Rent Freeze (SCRIE): for New York City tenants 62 and older in rent-regulated apartments who spend more than one-third of their income on rent. The income limit may be changing, so check it by calling 311.

Help with energy bills

New York's LIHEAP program is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). For the 2026-2027 season, a household of one can have income up to $3,563 a month, and two people up to $4,659. Households with someone 60 or older get an extra $35 on the regular benefit. The regular benefit is scheduled to open November 2, 2026, and emergency help on January 4, 2027. Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov, or in New York City at access.nyc.gov.

If you get HEAP, SNAP, SSI or Medicaid, your electric or gas company may give you a monthly discount through the Energy Affordability Program. Ask your utility if you were not enrolled automatically.

Free help and counseling

• HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program): free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-701-0501.
• Local offices for the aging: each county has one. In New York City, call Aging Connect at 212-244-6469. The Eldercare Locator can find yours: 1-800-677-1116.
• New York State Office for the Aging: aging.ny.gov.

How to apply

Phone numbers: Free help lines for New York agencies

Check what you may qualify for