People 65 and older who qualify for government help but are not signed up leave about $58 billion a year unclaimed, according to an estimate the National Council on Aging (NCOA) published on May 7, 2026. All of that money comes from three programs: SNAP food benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Medicare Savings Programs, which pay Medicare premiums.
NCOA counted the seniors who qualify for each program but are not enrolled, then multiplied by what each benefit is worth in a year. The counts come from a March 2026 Urban Institute study of 2023 data. The $58 billion leaves out every other program, such as Extra Help with drug costs.
Fewer than half of the seniors who qualify for each program are signed up, the Urban Institute found.
| Program | People 65+ who qualify | Share signed up | Qualify but not signed up |
|---|
| SNAP | 14.6 million | 38% | 9.1 million |
| SSI | 6.0 million | 40% | 3.6 million |
| Medicare Savings Programs | 12.9 million | 49% | 6.6 million |
The Urban Institute's counts cover an average month of 2023 and leave out people in nursing homes and other institutions. Many seniors qualify for more than one program, so the 9.1 million, 3.6 million and 6.6 million cannot be added into one count of people.
SNAP: money for groceries every month
Since October 1, 2026, SNAP pays up to $306 a month for one person and $562 for two, with higher amounts in Alaska and Hawaii. The amount drops as income rises, but a one- or two-person household that qualifies gets at least $25. In the 2023 fiscal year, SNAP households with someone 60 or older got $188 a month on average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
SNAP's income test is easier for older people. A household with someone 60 or older only has to pass the net income limit: $1,330 a month for one person or $1,804 for two, through September 30, 2027. SNAP first subtracts a $217 standard deduction, medical bills over $35 a month and housing costs above half of the remaining income. The federal savings limit for a household with someone 60 or older is $4,750. Income limits are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
SSI: a monthly check on top of Social Security
In 2026, SSI pays up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for a married couple who both qualify. People 65 and older can get SSI without a disability if their income and savings are low enough.
Social Security counts against SSI, except for the first $20 a month. A single person whose only income is a Social Security check under $1,014 a month can qualify if savings are under the limit. In Social Security's own example, a $300 check leaves $280 that counts, so SSI pays $714, which is $994 minus $280. SSI counts a Social Security check before the Medicare premium comes out, so use the full benefit amount, not the amount deposited.
The SSI savings limit is $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a couple, not counting the home you live in or one vehicle used for transportation. Some states add their own payment on top of the federal amount. Our guide to getting SSI and Social Security at the same time works through the math.
Medicare Savings Programs: help with the Part B premium
Most people with Medicare have the standard Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026, taken out of their Social Security check. The Medicare Savings Programs pay that premium, and one of them, QMB, also covers Medicare deductibles and copays. These are the 2026 federal monthly income limits:
- QMB: $1,350 for one person, $1,824 for a couple. Pays the Part B premium plus Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copays.
- SLMB: $1,616 for one person, $2,184 for a couple. Pays the Part B premium.
- QI: $1,816 for one person, $2,455 for a couple. Pays the Part B premium. You must reapply every year, and states approve QI first come, first served.
The federal savings limit for QMB, SLMB and QI is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple. Some states allow more income or savings than the federal limits. Anyone approved for QMB, SLMB or QI also qualifies for Extra Help with Medicare drug costs. Our Medicare Savings Programs guide has more detail.
What to do now
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for plan changes that start January 1, 2027. SNAP, SSI and the Medicare Savings Programs are separate from Open Enrollment.
- Write down your monthly income before anything is taken out, and your savings total. See which of the three you qualify for.
- For SNAP, apply through your state's SNAP office. USDA lists every state's office on its state directory page.
- For SSI, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for an appointment to apply for SSI. Social Security decides whether the appointment is by phone or in person.
- For a Medicare Savings Program, apply through your state Medicaid office. If you are approved, the state pays your Part B premium.
For heating help, phone discounts and other programs, see our guide to benefits for seniors over 65.
Sources
- National Council on Aging, "The $58 Billion Benefits Gap Affecting Older Adults," May 7, 2026
- Urban Institute for NCOA, "Estimation of National, State, and Substate Program Participation Rates for Adults 65 and Older, 2023," March 2026
- USDA, SNAP cost-of-living adjustments for fiscal year 2027 and SNAP eligibility rules
- USDA, Characteristics of SNAP Households: Fiscal Year 2023
- Social Security Administration, SSI federal payment amounts for 2026, SSI income rules, SSI resource rules, 20 CFR 416.1123 and how to apply for SSI
- Medicare.gov, Medicare Savings Programs, Part B costs, how to pay Part B premiums and when you can join a plan
