Programs that help older adults pay for food, health coverage, medications, and utility bills go unclaimed every year — not because people don't need them, but because the process of learning about them can feel more complicated than it is. Here is what exists, who it's for, and what Aster can do to help.
Food Assistance
SNAP: Nutrition Assistance
SNAP provides monthly benefits on an EBT card accepted at most grocery stores. For older adults on a fixed income, it can meaningfully offset the cost of food each month.
Arizona's income limits are more generous than most people expect. The gross income threshold is 185% of the federal poverty level — and for households where all members are 60 or older or have a disability, the gross income test is waived entirely. Only net income, after deductions, is tested. Individual circumstances may vary.
Medical expenses over $35 per month, rent and utility costs, and a standard deduction all reduce the countable income figure. Someone whose gross Social Security income looks too high may qualify comfortably after deductions are applied.
Health Coverage
AHCCCS: Arizona's Medicaid Program
AHCCCS — pronounced "access" — is Arizona's Medicaid program. It covers a broader population than many people realize, including adults without children. There is no asset test for most categories, meaning savings and home ownership generally don't affect eligibility.
Coverage includes doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, preventive care, and mental health services. Adults 65 and older who receive SSI are typically eligible automatically.
For older adults who need nursing home or in-home care, AHCCCS also operates the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which covers both nursing facility placement and home-based services. ALTCS has no waitlist — everyone who qualifies is served.
Medicare Cost Relief
Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare Savings Programs pay some or all of your Medicare premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing — and enrolling automatically qualifies you for Extra Help with prescription drug costs. They are among the most consistently overlooked sources of financial relief for older adults.
Income at or below ~$1,350/month. Covers Part A & B premiums, deductibles, and all cost-sharing. Providers cannot legally bill you for Medicare copays. The Part B premium alone is $185/month — QMB eliminates it entirely.
Income ~$1,351–$1,616/month. Covers the Part B premium, saving approximately $2,220 per year.
Income ~$1,617–$1,816/month. Also covers the Part B premium. Allocated first-come, first-served — earlier applications in the calendar year have a better chance.
Utility Assistance
LIHEAP & Utility Programs
In Arizona, summer cooling costs are not optional — utility assistance is a health issue as much as a financial one. LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills, with standard benefits up to $640 and an additional crisis benefit up to $500 for households facing a shut-off notice.
The benefit formula explicitly prioritizes households with members who are 60 or older or have a disability. For households above LIHEAP income thresholds, Arizona's Power AZ program extends utility assistance further — one combined application screens for both.
These programs can work together
You can receive SNAP, AHCCCS, a Medicare Savings Program, and LIHEAP at the same time — and qualifying for one often makes it easier to qualify for others.
Each program has its own application, agency, and rules. That's precisely why having a single knowledgeable point of contact makes a difference.
Aster can help you find out what you qualify for
Our Outreach Specialists provide free, confidential benefits consultations — with no obligation. As a certified Benefits Enrollment Center through the National Council on Aging, we have no financial stake in which programs you choose. Our only goal is to make sure you have access to what you're entitled to.
Free · Confidential · No obligation · Serving older adults in the East Valley
Sources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Administration. "SNAP Special Rules for the Elderly or Disabled." fna.usda.gov. Effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
- Arizona Department of Economic Security. "Arizona Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Eligibility." des.az.gov. Updated for fiscal year 2026.
- Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). "AHCCCS Eligibility Requirements." azahcccs.gov. Revised February 2026.
- Medicaid Planning Assistance. "Arizona Medicaid Eligibility 2026." medicaidplanningassistance.org. Citing AHCCCS program guidelines and ALTCS income limits effective January 1, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. "Medicare Savings Programs." medicare.gov. 2026.
- Medicare Interactive. "Medicare Savings Program Income and Asset Limits." medicareinteractive.org. 2026 standards; Arizona asset limit elimination confirmed January 2026.
- National Council on Aging. "What Are the 4 Types of Medicare Savings Programs?" ncoa.org. 2026 benefit figures.
- Arizona Department of Economic Security. "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)." des.az.gov/liheap. Benefit amounts effective fiscal year 2026.
- LIHEAP Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Arizona LIHEAP Profile." liheapch.acf.hhs.gov. FY 2026.
- APS (Arizona Public Service). "Get Help Paying Your Energy Bill." aps.com. 2026.
