7 Assistance Programs You May Be Able to Use If Social Security Is Your Only Income

Social Security was never meant to be a retiree’s sole source of income. Even so, for millions of older Americans, it is. The average retired worker received $2,071 a month after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). That comes to about $24,852 a year before Medicare premiums and taxes are deducted.

For anyone trying to live on that amount, the budget can feel tight. Fortunately, a mix of federal and state programs is designed to help people with limited income and assets pay for groceries, Medicare expenses, prescriptions, utility bills and housing. None of these benefits is automatic just because Social Security is your only income. Each program has its own rules, and eligibility often depends on income and asset limits that can vary by state. Here is what to know before applying.

Extra Help for Medicare prescription drug costs

Extra Help, also known as the Low-Income Subsidy, helps pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, including premiums, deductibles and copays. For 2026, the SSA sets the income limit at $23,940 for an individual and $32,460 for a married couple, with resource limits of $18,090 for an individual and $36,100 for a couple. Limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Counted resources include money in checking and savings accounts, stocks and bonds, but not a home, car or burial funds set aside up to $1,500. People who qualify are enrolled in a Medicare drug plan with a $0 premium and deductible. Applications can be filed through the SSA or a state Medicaid office.

Medicare Savings Programs for Part A and Part B costs

Medicare Savings Programs, administered by states and overseen by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), can help pay Medicare premiums and, in some cases, deductibles and copays. There are four levels, each with its own income and resource limits for 2026:

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

The income limit is $1,350 a month for an individual and $1,824 for a couple. QMB pays Part A and Part B premiums, along with deductibles, coinsurance and copays.

Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)

The income limit is $1,616 a month for an individual and $2,184 for a couple. SLMB pays the Part B premium.

Qualifying Individual (QI)

The income limit is $1,816 a month for an individual and $2,455 for a couple. QI also pays the Part B premium.

Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI)

The income limit is $5,405 a month for an individual and $7,299 for a couple. QDWI covers Part A premiums only.

For QMB, SLMB and QI, the resource limit is $9,950 for an individual and $14,910 for a couple. For QDWI, the resource limit is $4,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple, according to CMS. Some states do not count resources at all or use higher income limits, so it may still be worth applying even if you think you are over the threshold. Contact your state Medicaid office to apply.

Supplemental Security Income for very low income and resources

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate federal program from Social Security retirement benefits. The SSA runs it for people age 65 or older, or for people of any age who are blind or disabled, and who have limited income and resources. The federal payment standard for 2026 is $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple, although some states add an extra supplement. To qualify, an individual generally needs unearned income below $1,014 a month, and a couple below $1,511 a month, according to SSA figures. Resource limits are $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, and resources generally do not include a home, one vehicle or burial funds. If your only income is Social Security retirement or survivor benefits and the amount is low enough, you may also qualify for a reduced SSI payment. Applications are handled through your local SSA office.

SNAP food assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through state agencies, helps eligible households buy groceries. Income limits vary by household size and are adjusted each year, so check the USDA’s SNAP eligibility tool or your state agency for current figures. Households with a member age 60 or older, or a member receiving disability benefits, only need to meet a net income test and can deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses above $35 a month, according to USDA rules. If everyone in the household already receives SSI or TANF, the household may automatically be considered income-eligible for SNAP. In California, SSI recipients can apply for CalFresh, the state’s SNAP program, directly through a Social Security office under certain conditions, according to SSA guidance.

LIHEAP help with utility bills

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and run by states, helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills. Under federal rules, no household can be excluded if its income is below 110% of the federal poverty guidelines, though states can set their own thresholds and may use different standards from one year to the next. If you already receive SNAP or Medicaid, you may automatically meet LIHEAP’s income test in many states. Because funding is limited and distributed through state and local agencies, applying early in the season can make a difference. Contact your state LIHEAP office or a local community action agency to apply.

Housing help through HUD programs

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees several programs that can lower housing costs for low-income older adults, including Housing Choice Vouchers, commonly known as Section 8, and public housing. These programs generally use local area median income limits, which vary widely by city and county and are set and updated by HUD. Since waiting lists for vouchers can be long in many places, it may help to apply as soon as you know your income meets the rules, even if you do not need assistance right away. Contact your local public housing agency to learn about income limits and application timing.

State-specific extra help

In addition to federal aid, many states offer their own support. Some add a supplement to the federal SSI payment, which can make the total benefit higher than the federal base amount for an individual or couple, depending on where you live and your living arrangement, according to SSA data. States may also offer property tax relief for seniors, state-funded pharmacy assistance and broader Medicaid eligibility options. Because these programs differ so much from state to state, your state department of aging or human services office is often the best place to find out what is available locally.

Bottom line

Living on Social Security alone does not automatically make you eligible for these programs, but it does not rule you out either. Each program has its own income and resource standards, and many people who assume they earn too much discover they qualify once housing costs, medical bills or state-specific rules are considered.

The SSA, CMS and USDA all provide free screening tools and local office contacts that can help you check eligibility across multiple programs at once instead of applying separately and guessing. Creating a my Social Security account online can also help you track your current benefit amount and COLA notices, which many of these applications require.