Aster Aging Named to National Network of Benefits Enrollment Centers
Aster Aging has been named one of 90 community-based organizations nationwide selected by the National Council on Aging to serve as a Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC), renewing its role in a national initiative that connects low-income older adults and people with disabilities to critical public benefits.
Through more than $18.5 million in funding awarded across 40 states and territories, NCOA supports local organizations that help eligible individuals enroll in programs that make health care, prescription medications, food, and utilities more affordable. The BEC network is funded through the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act and administered by the Administration for Community Living. The program, which has a 17-year bipartisan track record, was recently extended through 2027 under the 2026 omnibus spending package.
As a certified Benefits Enrollment Center, Aster Aging provides free, confidential assistance to individuals on Medicare throughout the East Valley. Trained Outreach Specialists and Social Service Specialists screen for eligibility and guide clients through the application process for programs including:
Medicare Part D Extra Help
Medicare Savings Programs
Medicaid/AHCCCS
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
City of Mesa Utility Assistance Program
Centers across the country use NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp® tool to connect individuals to more than 2,000 public and private benefits programs. In 2024 alone, NCOA’s local partners helped eligible individuals apply for more than $825 million in assistance. Nationwide, the program connected 4.7 million lower-income adults to benefits in 2023–2024. Aster's Benefits Enrollment Center serves thousands of older adults in the East Valley each year.
The need for this work is increasing. According to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, poverty among older adults rose from 10.7% in 2021 to 15% in 2024. Research cited by NCOA shows that adults age 60 and older earning $20,000 per year or less have significantly shorter life expectancies than higher-income peers. Many eligible individuals remain unenrolled in available programs simply because they are unaware of the benefits or unsure how to apply.
For Aster Aging, participation in the BEC network aligns directly with its mission to empower and support East Valley older adults to remain independent and engaged in their communities. Since 1979, Aster has delivered a continuum of services including In-Home Support, Meals on Wheels, Outreach and Social Services, and Senior Centers. The organization’s work as a Benefits Enrollment Center strengthens this continuum by addressing the financial barriers that often undermine health and stability in later life.
By continuing as part of NCOA’s national network, Aster Aging reinforces its commitment to ensuring that older adults in the East Valley have access not only to services, but to the economic resources that sustain independence and dignity.
To learn more, read the National Council on Aging's official announcement by visiting their website: Benefits Enrollment Centers Span 40 States and Territories
