Paying for Care

Benefits Programs Help Pay for Caregiving Expenses

financial help

Government benefits programs pay for caregiving expenses

Caregiving is expensive! Get financial help from over 2,000 available federal, state, and private benefits programs.

A free service called BenefitsCheckup helps you quickly find the programs that could pay for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other basic needs for your older adult.

 

Legitimate service from the National Council on Aging

BenefitsCheckUp is a legitimate service from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a nonprofit service and advocacy organization. The NCOA has a 60+ year track record of building public awareness, influencing federal legislation, and creating national programs to make life better for older adults.




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Our experience using BenefitsCheckUp

Using BenefitsCheckUp saves a lot of time. You only need to fill out one form to search all available programs.

To find out if your older adult qualifies for benefits programs, just answer basic questions like age, zip code, marital status and some detailed ones like income, expenses, and medications.

One of our editors answered the questions on behalf of their older adult and discovered many benefits programs that they didn’t know existed.

 

Easy to apply for recommended benefits programs

BenefitsCheckUp recommended 23 benefits programs for our editor’s older adult. Some programs seem to be based on the senior’s income and assets. Others seem to be available for people on Medicare.

From the report showing the programs your older adult could qualify for, you can apply online directly from an “Apply Now” button or click the link to get more information.

 

Spend 20 minutes, get money

The online application is simple, but might take some time to complete. There are 34 questions and could take 15 – 20 minutes. You can skip questions if needed, but providing more answers will give better results.

DailyCaring tip: The “you” in the questions refers to your older adult (for example, your Mom or husband) and not “you,” the caregiver.

 

Search all programs or focus on certain expenses

You can choose to search all available benefits programs or focus on getting help with specific expenses like medicine or food.

caregiving expensesClick this orange button to search all benefits programs

caregiving expensesSearch programs that help with specific expenses

 

Bottom line

No matter what your older adult’s financial situation, it won’t hurt to check for potential benefits. Answering 34 questions takes time and energy, but this tool makes it efficient because it connects with 2,000+ programs using only one form. Saving money on caregiving expenses is well worth the effort!

 

Next Step  Find benefits programs that pay for caregiving expenses

 

You might also like:
— 7 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs
— Medicare Pays for In-Home Care Under the PACE Program
— How an Elder Law Attorney Can Help You

 

By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: TrinityP3

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6 Comments

  • Reply June 2, 2019

    Julie Ann Ness

    I was a non paid live in caregiver/room & board, for an 83 yr old lady with dementia, for over a year. In that time, she went from being able to walk, shower, and toiletries, to not walking at all, losing time in the shower, and being totally incontinent. She needs 24 hour care. Her son is very abusive to her, verbally and physically. I did the best I could for her, but she just kept getting worse. I told her son repeatedly that she should be in a home, so that she could get the care she deserved, including medical appointments. This is her home that her retirement pays for, which is good because the son has her debit/credit cards. I have called the elder abuse hotline 4 times now, to no avail.
    He is the only person she ever sees, except when I can sneak to visit her. She has 3 other sons, but only one seems to care. What can I do to get her the help she needs, and to get her away from the abuse?

    • Reply June 8, 2019

      DailyCaring

      It’s wonderful that you’re trying to help your former client. It’s a tough situation since you’re not a relative and her family most likely has Power of Attorney to make decisions on her behalf.

      You may want to try contacting your local Area Agency on Aging to see if they have contacts within the Adult Protective Services department in your area.

      More info on how to find them — Local Community Resources for Seniors and Caregivers: Area Agency on Aging https://dailycaring.com/local-community-resources-for-seniors-and-caregivers-area-agency-on-aging/

  • Reply January 21, 2019

    Shawna A Sweitzer

    Hello we have my mom at senior life so she can stay at home and we aren’t happy with this facility I need help to try and find her a new facility can you help

  • Reply September 24, 2016

    MARATHON JOHN D GAFFNEY

    Id love to know how to bcome a PAID CAREGIVER/PCA;Everyone I talk to says I can B a PAID-CAREGIVER BUT NOBODIES EVER POINTED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION;PLEASE HELP ME GET STARTED!!

    • Reply September 24, 2016

      Connie Chow

      If you’d like to provide care for others, you might want to speak with someone at a local home care agency to see what the requirements are for a caregiving job. If you’re asking about getting paid to care for a family member, there are government programs that will pay you to care for your older adult. In some states, the program is called In Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Check with your local Area Agency on Aging to find out more about the program in your area. Here’s more info on the Area Agency on Aging — http://dailycaring.com/local-community-resources-for-seniors-and-caregivers-area-agency-on-aging/

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