Financial Hardship
Where to turn when money is tight: help with medical debt, emergency assistance, and the main federal safety-net programs.
When income does not cover the bills, help usually comes from several programs at once, and each has its own application. These guides start with the urgent cases, such as a shutoff notice or a medical bill you cannot pay. They then cover food programs, the SNAP application, pay for family caregivers and the cost of long-term care insurance. The calculators below check your income against program limits.
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Many older adults who qualify for help never apply, often because they assume the income limits are lower than they are, or that owning a home disqualifies them. Food, energy and medical help each run through different programs with different rules, so it pays to check each one. SNAP, for example, uses special rules for households with someone 60 or older: no gross income test, a higher asset limit, and a deduction for medical costs above $35 a month.
| Program | Key figure |
|---|---|
| SNAP net income limit, 1 person (Oct 2026 to Sep 2027) | $1,330 a month; maximum benefit $306 |
| SNAP asset limit with a member 60+ | $4,750 (the home and most retirement accounts do not count) |
| LIHEAP federal income ceiling | 150% of the poverty guideline; states may use a different limit |
| 2026 poverty guideline | $15,960 for 1 person, $21,640 for 2 (48 states and DC) |
Where to start
- Not sure what you qualify for? Run the benefits screener, which checks several programs at once.
- Food: check the SNAP calculator, then read how to apply for SNAP and about senior food boxes.
- Heating and cooling bills: use the LIHEAP eligibility calculator.
- Medical bills or an emergency: see help with medical bills and emergency assistance programs.