Senior Resource & Locator Tools
Twelve free locator tools for finding local help: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP Medicare counseling, prescription assistance, free and paid caregiver support, hearing and vision assistance, elder abuse resources, funeral and burial assistance, lost pension search, senior employment, medical transportation, and legal aid.
Some benefit questions cannot be answered by a calculator. You need a person or a local office. The tools in this category connect seniors and their families to free, unbiased, government-backed help near them.
Finding Local Services: Area Agencies on Aging
Every region of the country is covered by an Area Agency on Aging (AAA), a local organization mandated under the Older Americans Act that coordinates services like meal delivery, transportation, in-home care, and benefits counseling. It's usually the single best starting point when you don't know which specific program applies to your situation. The Area Agency on Aging Locator finds the one serving your area.
Unbiased Medicare Help
Many seniors meet sales pressure from insurance agents when they choose a Medicare plan. SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselors are a free alternative. They are trained volunteers or staff who do not sell insurance or earn commissions. The SHIP Counselor Locator connects you to your state's program. The State Pharmaceutical Assistance (SPAP) Finder covers state programs that help with prescription costs beyond Medicare Part D and Extra Help.
Caregiver Support: Free Services vs. Getting Paid
Family caregivers look for one of two things: free support services, or pay for the care they give. The Family Caregiver Support Eligibility Checker covers the free services of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, such as respite care and counseling, which have no income test and make no direct payment. The Paid Family Caregiver Eligibility Checker covers paid care, which comes through Medicaid self-directed care and depends on the care recipient's eligibility. It also flags the narrower rules for a spouse or the parent of a minor child. If you suspect elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, Adult Protective Services takes reports in every state, and the Elder Abuse Resource Locator connects you to the right office.
Hearing and Vision: A Coverage Gap Medicare Leaves Open
Original Medicare does not cover routine hearing aids or eyeglasses, and much of what is written about "free hearing aids" does not say who qualifies. The Hearing Aid & Eyeglass Assistance Finder compares your income with 200% of the federal poverty level, the limit most national programs use, and links to the Miracle-Ear Foundation, the National Hearing Aid Project, EyeCare America and VSP Eyes of Hope with their current eligibility rules.
Legal Help Without a Private Attorney's Price Tag
Powers of attorney, guardianship, a wrongly denied benefit and recovering from a scam are legal problems, but they do not always require an expensive lawyer. The Senior Legal Aid Locator covers the two federally funded networks that give free help, the Eldercare Locator and the Legal Services Corporation, and a directory of paid elder law attorneys for matters that need one.
Funeral and Burial Costs: What's Real Beyond the $255 Myth
Social Security's one-time $255 death payment is often mistaken for a funeral benefit. The amount has not changed since 1954 and does not cover funeral costs. The Funeral & Burial Assistance Finder covers the other sources: FEMA funeral assistance for disaster-related deaths, county indigent burial and cremation programs, and nonprofit resources for lowering costs in advance. Veterans should check the VA Burial Benefits Checker first, because those benefits are larger and more consistent.
Lost Pensions and Other Unclaimed Money
A job from decades ago, a company that closed or merged, or an employer that lost your address can leave a pension or account unclaimed. Billions of dollars in retirement benefits and property sit in official databases. The Lost Pension & Unclaimed Benefits Finder links to three free official databases: PBGC's Unclaimed Pensions search for traditional pensions, the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits for 401(k)-style accounts, and unclaimed.org for other property.
Getting Back to Work, and Getting to Appointments
Two more tools cover work and transportation. The SCSEP Senior Employment Program Locator covers the federal program for low-income workers 55 and older, which pays the minimum wage for part-time community service training that leads to a regular job. The NEMT & Senior Transportation Guide covers the mandatory Medicaid benefit that pays for rides to medical appointments, and what to do if you are not on Medicaid or need an accessible ride.
Every Resources & Locators Tool
Related Reading
Is There Really Free Government Money for Seniors?
What real assistance exists, and how to spot the "free money" scams that target retirees.
Read more → Elder ProtectionWhat to Do If You Suspect Elder Abuse
Who to call when someone is in immediate danger, and who to call to report abuse.
Read more → Financial HardshipFinancial Assistance Programs for Medical Bills
Hospital charity care, sliding-scale clinics, and where to get help with medical debt.
Read more → Financial HardshipEmergency Financial Assistance Programs for Seniors
What to do when a utility shutoff, eviction notice, or empty pantry needs help fast.
Read more → Financial HardshipFinancial Hardship Assistance Programs: A Senior's Guide
The main federal safety-net programs to check first.
Read more →Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Area Agency on Aging do?
Area Agencies on Aging are local organizations, mandated under the Older Americans Act, that coordinate and often directly provide services like meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and benefits counseling for seniors in a specific region.
Is a SHIP counselor free, and are they trying to sell me insurance?
SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counseling is free and unbiased by law. Counselors are trained volunteers or staff who do not sell insurance or receive commissions, unlike insurance agents.
Can family caregivers get paid?
In most states, yes, through Medicaid self-directed care programs that let a care recipient hire a family member or friend as a paid caregiver. Federal rules are narrower for a spouse or the parent of a minor child. Availability, program names and rules differ by state.
Does Medicare cover hearing aids or eyeglasses?
Original Medicare doesn't cover routine hearing aids or eyeglasses. Several national nonprofit programs offer free or low-cost help based on income, typically at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.
Where can seniors get free or low-cost legal help?
The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) connects seniors to Older Americans Act-funded legal assistance with generally no strict income cutoff. The Legal Services Corporation's Find Legal Aid tool locates general civil legal aid organizations by ZIP code, using an income guideline around 125% of the federal poverty line.
Who do I call if I suspect elder abuse?
For immediate danger, call 911. To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation that isn't an emergency, Adult Protective Services in your state is the primary reporting agency, and the Eldercare Locator can connect you to it.
What funeral or burial assistance exists for non-veterans?
Social Security's $255 lump-sum death payment is the only fixed federal amount, and it does not cover funeral costs. FEMA funeral assistance applies only to disaster-related deaths. For families with no other resources, county indigent burial or cremation programs are the usual fallback, and they differ widely by location.
How do I find a pension or 401(k) from a job I left years ago?
Two free databases cover this: PBGC's Unclaimed Pensions search for traditional pensions that ended, and the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits for 401(k)-style accounts. The state-run site unclaimed.org covers forgotten bank accounts and other property.
Is there a federal program to help seniors find work?
Yes. SCSEP (the Senior Community Service Employment Program), run by the U.S. Department of Labor, pays workers 55 and older with income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level for part-time community service training that leads to a regular job.
Does Medicaid pay for rides to medical appointments?
Yes. Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is a mandatory Medicaid benefit in every state. The booking process and broker differ by state. Call the number on your Medicaid ID card to arrange a ride.
This page is for general educational purposes and is not affiliated with the U.S. Administration for Community Living or any state agency. See our Data Sources page for how we source figures.