Los Angeles County, California vs Davidson County, Tennessee

The Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) helps unpaid caregivers of Los Angeles County residents. Funded under the federal Older Americans Act Title IIIE and administered by the LA County Aging & Disabilities Department through contracted community agencies. Two pathways: (1) Family Caregivers of Older Adults — caregivers 18 or older providing unpaid care to an adult 60+, or to an adult of any age with Alzheimer's, a related dementia, or other disability; (2) Older Relative Caregivers — grandparents or other relatives 55 or older raising a child. Services include respite (short-term in-home or out-of-home relief), counseling, support groups, training, supplemental supplies, and assistive devices. No income test, but priority goes to caregivers with greatest social or economic need.

$500–$2,500/yr

CAPI is a 100% state-funded cash benefit that mirrors SSI for aged, blind, or disabled non-citizens who would qualify for federal SSI but are barred from it solely because of their immigration status. The monthly payment is set just below the combined SSI/SSP standard (typically about $10 less for an individual), so a CAPI recipient receives roughly the same monthly cash as a citizen on SSI. It is administered by county welfare departments on behalf of the California Department of Social Services. CAPI exists specifically to close the gap left when federal welfare reform restricted SSI for many lawfully present immigrants — a large share of California's low-income immigrant seniors are eligible but never apply because they assume immigration status disqualifies them from everything. Apply through your county social services office — CDSS directs CAPI applicants to their county rather than a statewide phone line.

$11,500–$17,300/yr

LIHEAP helps low-income California households pay their home energy bills — electricity, natural gas, propane, wood, or oil. California's LIHEAP runs three sub-programs: HEAP (a one-time bill-payment credit), ECIP (Energy Crisis Intervention Program for households facing disconnection or already out of energy), and the Low-Income Weatherization Program (free home improvements that reduce energy use, like attic insulation, refrigerator replacement, weather stripping). Eligibility is based on household income at or below 60% of California's State Median Income, which varies by household size.

$300–$1,000/yr

California's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households pay home heating and cooling bills, with one-time crisis help when service is past due or shut off. It is funded federally and run statewide by the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD). In Los Angeles County it is delivered by the local CSD-contracted service provider; find yours with the CSD 'Find Services in Your Area' locator or the online application portal. Households generally qualify at or below 60% of the state median income; older adults and people with disabilities are prioritized. Payments usually go straight to the utility company. Apply online at CaLIHEAPApply or through your local provider.

$94–$1,500/yr

CalFresh is California's name for SNAP (food stamps). For households where everyone is 60 or older (or has a disability), there's a simplified 'Elderly Simplified Application Project' — fewer documents, three-year recertification instead of one-year, and no work requirement. California's Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility means most senior households face no asset test for CalFresh. Benefits land on an EBT card and can be used at most grocery stores and farmers markets.

$1,200–$3,000/yr

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. The Aged, Blind & Disabled Federal Poverty Level pathway covers seniors 65+ and people who are blind or disabled, providing comprehensive health coverage — doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care — usually with no monthly premium. The income limit is 138% of the federal poverty level. California reinstated an asset limit for non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs (including this one) on January 1, 2026: $130,000 for a single applicant, plus $65,000 for each additional household member (so $195,000 for a couple). Current enrollees won't have assets reviewed until their first 2026 renewal; new applicants on or after January 1, 2026 must report assets at application.

$4,000–$15,000/yr

Hospitals serving Los Angeles County — including Los Angeles County's hospitals, including the LA County Department of Health Services safety-net hospitals (LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View, MLK) plus Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, Providence, Cedars-Sinai, and UCLA Health — must provide financial assistance under California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act. Uninsured patients (and insured patients with high medical costs) with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for charity care or discounted payment; many nonprofit systems give fully free care at lower income levels (for example, Dignity Health provides free care up to 250% of the poverty level). Eligible patients are never charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Ask any hospital's financial-counseling or billing office for its Financial Assistance Policy and application; the state's HCAI publishes every hospital's policy.

$500–$20,000/yr

The Assisted Living Waiver pays the care portion of a stay at a participating Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) or publicly subsidized senior housing for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who would otherwise need nursing home placement. The waiver covers personal care, assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, social services, and care coordination at the facility; the participant pays only the residency cost (room and board), which for SSI-eligible seniors is capped at the SSI/SSP non-medical out-of-home care rate (roughly $1,300 per month). ALW operates in 15 California counties and has limited slots; new applicants typically join a waiting list. The waiver is one of the few Medi-Cal pathways that pays for assisted living rather than only home-based care. Questions go to the DHCS ALW unit by email at ALWP.IR@dhcs.ca.gov, or apply through one of the ALW Care Coordination Agencies listed on the DHCS page.

$30,000–$60,000/yr

CBAS is a Medi-Cal benefit that pays for adult day health centers — outpatient day programs that combine nursing, social work, therapy (physical, occupational, speech), personal care, meals, and transportation in a single facility, typically for two to five days per week. CBAS is designed for adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions who would otherwise be at risk of nursing facility placement. The program lets seniors stay at home overnight while receiving daily medical and social support, and provides essential respite for family caregivers. CBAS is delivered through Medi-Cal managed care plans (or fee-for-service for some populations) at over 200 licensed centers across California.

$15,000–$30,000/yr

The HCBA Waiver is California's Medi-Cal waiver for people with the highest level of medical need — those who would otherwise require ongoing care in a hospital or a nursing facility but can be safely served at home with intensive support. A waiver-agency registered nurse builds and manages an individualized care plan that can include in-home skilled nursing (including shift nursing for medically fragile people), care management, personal care, habilitation, family/caregiver training, medical equipment operating expenses, communication devices, environmental accessibility adaptations (wheelchair ramps, widened doorways, roll-in showers), and private-duty nursing. It is the most intensive of California's home-care alternatives and is intended to prevent or reverse institutional placement for medically complex individuals.

$20,000–$90,000/yr

IHSS pays for a caregiver to come to the home and help an aged, blind, or disabled person with personal care, housework, meal preparation, shopping, and other daily activities — keeping people out of nursing facilities. Hours are assessed by a county social worker based on individual need (up to 283 hours per month for severely impaired participants). The caregiver can often be a family member, including an adult child or spouse. IHSS requires Medi-Cal eligibility as a prerequisite.

$12,000–$50,000/yr

MSSP is a Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver that provides care management and supportive services to keep frail seniors out of nursing homes. A nurse and social worker team builds a written care plan and coordinates a mix of in-home services that can include adult day care, transportation, minor home repairs (grab bars, ramps), personal care, respite care for family caregivers, protective supervision, and help paying for limited medical supplies. MSSP supplements — not replaces — IHSS and Medi-Cal-covered services. Eligibility requires Medi-Cal enrollment, age 65+, and certification that the senior is at risk of nursing facility placement (typically signaled by need for help with daily activities).

$3,000–$8,000/yr

PACE is a comprehensive, integrated care program for seniors who are certified eligible for nursing-home placement but want to keep living in the community. A single PACE organization becomes the participant's complete medical home — covering all primary care, specialists, hospital stays, prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, transportation to medical appointments, meals, social activities, and adult day care at a PACE center. For seniors who have both Medicare and full-scope Medi-Cal, PACE replaces those benefits as a single program with $0 out-of-pocket cost, no copays, no deductibles, and no prescription cost-sharing. PACE is operated by 17 nonprofit organizations across roughly 17 California counties; participants must live within a PACE service area and agree to use only PACE-network providers.

$30,000–$80,000/yr

The Dignity at Home Fall Prevention Program helps older adults and people with disabilities avoid falls and stay safely in their own homes. Through local Area Agencies on Aging it provides in-home safety assessments, home modifications, fall-prevention education, and injury-prevention equipment. It is income-limited (adjusted household income at or below 80% of the area median income, which varies by county) and is for people who have fallen, are at risk of falling, or are at risk of being placed in a facility. Availability and the exact local provider vary by county.

Property Tax Postponement (PTP) lets qualifying senior, blind, or disabled homeowners defer their property taxes — the state pays the county on the homeowner's behalf, and the deferred amount becomes a lien on the property repaid when the home is sold, transferred, refinanced, or the owner moves out. It's one of California's most under-claimed senior benefits despite deferring thousands of dollars in property taxes each year. Applications for the 2025-26 fiscal year are accepted October 1, 2025 through February 10, 2026 on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

$3,000–$10,000/yr

The Handyworker Program provides up to $9,000 in minor home repairs for low- and moderate-income homeowners in unincorporated Los Angeles County within the First, Fourth, and Fifth Supervisorial Districts. Covered repairs include minor plumbing, screen replacement, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, garbage disposal, and small appliance replacement. Funded by federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money administered by LACDA. The home must be owner-occupied (single-family, mobile home, condo, or townhome), owned for at least one year, and carry homeowner's insurance. There is no age or disability requirement — only income and location.

$1,000–$9,000/yr

LACDA's Senior Grant Program provides up to $20,000 in home repair and accessibility grants for low-income homeowners 62 or older in unincorporated Los Angeles County within Supervisorial Districts 1, 2, 4, and 5. Funded by federal CDBG dollars. Covered work includes mobility modifications (wheelchair ramps, grab bars, widened doorways) and deferred maintenance (roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating). The home must be the applicant's primary residence — single-family house, condominium, or townhome — owned for at least 12 months and maintained per state and local code. Stronger grant ceiling than the Handyworker Program and specifically aimed at age-in-place modifications.

$2,000–$20,000/yr

General Relief (GR) is a Los Angeles County-funded cash aid program for indigent adults who have no income or resources and do not qualify for federal or state cash aid. For a low-income senior it is most relevant as a bridge while a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or CAPI application is pending. The grant is modest — $221 a month for a single adult, $375 for a couple — and most recipients must repay it if they later receive SSI back pay. Eligibility requires LA County residency and very low income and assets.

$2,652–$4,500/yr

California operates eight Veterans Homes — in Barstow, Chula Vista, Fresno, Lancaster, Redding, Ventura, West Los Angeles, and Yountville — offering residential and long-term care in a community built around veterans. Depending on the campus, care ranges from independent living (domiciliary) and residential care for the elderly to skilled nursing and memory care. A veteran must generally be 55 or older, a California resident, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and covered by a health plan such as Medicare or Medi-Cal. A spouse or domestic partner may apply jointly with the veteran. Apply online through myCalVet or by mail to the chosen Home; a pre-admission assessment identifies the right level of care.

County Veterans Service Offices throughout California help veterans and their families file VA claims at no cost — disability compensation, pension, Aid and Attendance, survivor benefits, and appeals. CalVet also provides claims review and representation for appeals through its district offices. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in California: the rating drives federal compensation, and it unlocks state benefits such as the Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption (100% rating) and reduced-fee licenses and the parks pass (50% rating). No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim.

Free digital devices, internet service plans, and training for older adults and adults with disabilities, so they can connect safely online, reach healthcare providers, and build digital skills. Part of CDA's Digital Inclusion effort alongside the Digital Connections Program. Call 1-800-510-2020 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging and ask about device and connectivity programs.

California State Parks issues a free lifetime pass to qualifying California veterans. The Distinguished Veteran Pass covers the basic facilities in participating state parks — day-use parking, camping, and boating — at no charge. It is available to honorably discharged California residents who have a combined VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or more with wartime service, were a prisoner of war, or received the Medal of Honor. Apply once with form DPR-619, a California ID, the DD-214, and a VA letter dated within the past year showing the rating.

California sells sharply discounted hunting and sport-fishing licenses to honorably discharged veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or more. For the 2026 seasons, the reduced-fee license is $10.54 — compared with $64.54 for the regular resident hunting license and $64.54 for the regular resident sport-fishing license. A veteran prequalifies once with CDFW by sending a VA benefit letter showing the honorable discharge and the rating; after that, the discounted license can be bought each year online, at CDFW offices, or from any license agent. The hunting license also requires proof of hunter education.

$54–$108/yr

California operates state veterans cemeteries as a resting place for veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependents. The Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo (near Redding) offers in-ground casket and urn burials, columbaria, and memorial headstones, and primarily serves the eighteen northernmost counties. The California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside currently offers interment of cremated remains in above-ground columbaria. Eligibility follows the same rules as national VA cemeteries — generally any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, plus their spouse and eligible dependents. Families can settle the paperwork ahead of time: applying for a pre-need eligibility determination is free and creates no obligation.

L.A. Found provides a free Project Lifesaver radio-frequency tracking bracelet for Los Angeles County residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, or other cognitive impairments (including some mental illnesses) who are at risk of wandering. If the wearer goes missing, the caregiver calls 911 and the LA County Sheriff's Mental Evaluation Team is deployed with handheld and helicopter-mounted receivers to locate them. The bracelet emits a radio signal every few seconds. There is no income test. Approved applicants receive the bracelet at no cost (the same bracelet is $375 to purchase outside the program). A caregiver / authorized agent submits the application on the participant's behalf.

$375/yr

California exempts a portion of a disabled veteran's principal residence from property tax. The low-income tier exempts roughly the first $263,000 of assessed value for veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or who are receiving compensation at the 100% rate due to unemployability). The exemption is also available to unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans, including survivors of service members who died on active duty. For a typical California home, this translates to roughly $2,000–$3,000 per year in property tax savings. The exemption is in addition to — and replaces — the standard Homeowners' Exemption; a homeowner can claim one or the other, not both.

$2,000–$3,000/yr

California exempts a portion of a disabled veteran's principal residence from property tax. The basic tier exempts roughly the first $175,000 of assessed value for veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or who are receiving compensation at the 100% rate due to unemployability), with NO income limit — it is available regardless of household income. The exemption is also available to unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans, including survivors of service members who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition. For a typical California home this translates to roughly $1,500–$2,000 per year in property tax savings. The exemption replaces the standard Homeowners' Exemption (a homeowner claims one or the other, not both), and a qualifying veteran claims the higher-value low-income tier instead if their household income is at or below the published limit.

$1,500–$2,000/yr

The Homeowners' Exemption reduces the assessed value of a primary residence by $7,000, saving an owner-occupant roughly $70 per year in property taxes. It's a one-time application — once granted, the exemption stays on the property as long as the owner continues to occupy it as their principal residence. Despite being one of the easiest California property tax benefits to claim, many homeowners forget to apply for it (particularly after a refinance or transfer triggers reassessment).

$70/yr

California issues Disabled Veteran license plates that waive all vehicle registration and license fees on one vehicle, for veterans with a qualifying permanent service-connected disability. Qualifying conditions include a 100% VA disability rating due to a diagnosed disease or disorder that substantially impairs mobility, inability to move without an assistive device, loss of use of one or more limbs, or permanent blindness. DV plates also allow parking in disabled-person spaces, at blue curbs, and at metered spaces at no charge. Apply at any DMV office with the certification form REG 256V; there is no application fee.

Access Services is the ADA-mandated shared-ride paratransit service for Los Angeles County. It provides curb-to-curb van rides for people whose disability prevents them from using fixed-route Metro buses or trains for some or all trips. Eligibility is functional, not categorical: a transit professional evaluates you in person to determine whether you can independently navigate the regular bus system, rather than deciding solely on disability, age, or diagnosis. Once approved, you can book low-cost shared rides across the service area for any purpose. Application is online or by phone, followed by an in-person evaluation; a decision is mailed within 21 days.

$1,500–$4,000/yr

LA Metro offers a Senior Reduced Fare for riders 62 and older on Metro buses and rail. The base fare drops from $1.75 to 75¢ at peak times and 35¢ off-peak (weekdays 9am-3pm and 7pm-5am, plus weekends and federal holidays), with daily and weekly fare caps of $2.50 and $5 — after the cap, additional rides are free. There is no income test; eligibility is age-based and proven with a government-issued photo ID. It pairs naturally with Access Paratransit for seniors who can use fixed-route transit for some trips.

$100–$500/yr

CARE is a CPUC-regulated discount on energy bills for income-qualified California households. Enrollees of the major investor-owned utilities (PG&E, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, SoCalGas) receive a 30–35% discount on their electric bill and a 20% discount on their natural gas bill. Smaller utilities offer a 20% discount on both. Eligibility is met through either an income test (household income at or below the CPUC-published limit, which varies by household size) or a program test (current participation in Medi-Cal, CalFresh/SNAP, SSI, LIHEAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, TANF/CalWORKs, Tribal TANF, BIA General Assistance, Head Start (Tribal), or Healthy Families A&B). Either path qualifies the household — both don't have to be met.

$300–$700/yr

California LifeLine provides a state-funded discount of up to $19/month on a single home phone or wireless service line, stacking on top of the federal Lifeline benefit. There are two eligibility paths: an income-based path (household income at or below the published annual limit, which varies by household size) and a program-based path (current participation in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, LIHEAP, federal Lifeline, Section 8, WIC, NSL, TANF, several Tribal programs, or the Veterans/Survivors Pension Benefit). Either path qualifies the household — they don't both have to be met.

$132–$228/yr

This program helps family and unpaid caregivers with counseling and support groups, caregiver training, respite care, personal care, homemaker services, and adult day care. It serves caregivers of adults age 60 and over, caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's or a related disorder (any age), and grandparents or relatives 55+ raising a minor child. Contact your Area Agency on Aging & Disability.

The Greater Nashville Area Agency on Aging and Disability serves older adults age 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers in Davidson County. Services include congregate and home-delivered meals, family caregiver support and respite, SHIP Medicare counseling, options counseling for long-term care, the long-term care ombudsman, the OPTIONS in-home services program, and public guardianship. Call the Information and Assistance line to learn what is available locally.

$1,000–$6,000/yr

LIHEAP helps Tennessee households pay heating and cooling utility bills, with extra help in an energy crisis. Eligibility is based on income at or below 60% of the State Median Income — in federal fiscal year 2026 that is about $32,053/year for one person, $41,915 for two, $51,778 for three, and $61,641 for a household of four (higher for larger households). Benefits range from about $174 to $750. Apply online through the agency that serves your county.

$174–$750/yr

Tennessee's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay heating and cooling costs for income-eligible households. In Davidson County, LIHEAP is delivered by Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency (MCHRA). Households with an older adult (60+) or a person with a disability get priority. Apply through Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency, and call 2-1-1 Tennessee for referral help. Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) administers the program statewide.

$300–$1,500/yr

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program. The Aged, Blind & Disabled (ABD) category covers people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, with low income. In 2026 the income limit is $994/month for one person and $1,491/month for a couple, with a resource limit of $2,000 (one person) or $3,000 (couple). People who receive SSI are enrolled automatically. Apply through TennCare Connect.

$4,000–$30,000/yr

Tennessee's SHIP gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling to Medicare-eligible Tennesseans, their families, and caregivers. Counselors help compare Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D drug plans, understand Medigap, and enroll in programs that lower Medicare costs. Counselors do not sell or endorse any plan. Call 1-877-801-0044.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the largest hospital system in Davidson County. Vanderbilt Health offers financial assistance (charity care) that discounts or waives bills for uninsured and underinsured patients, based on household income and family size compared with the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Apply online or call customer service, or email financial.assistance@vumc.org.

Flexible state-funded help so people with severe disabilities can stay in their homes with their families. Funds can pay for respite care, day care, home and vehicle modifications, equipment, personal assistance, transportation, and other supports the family chooses. It serves adults with severe disabilities (including those living with family or on their own without other residential program support) and families with children with severe disabilities. There is a Family Support agency for every county in the state — contact the Department of Disability & Aging regional office to find yours and apply.

up to $6,000/yr

OPTIONS is Tennessee's state-funded (non-Medicaid) home and community based services program. It provides homemaker services, personal care, and home-delivered meals to help adults with physical or cognitive disabilities stay in their own home. There is no income limit — a sliding fee based on income applies. Contact your Area Agency on Aging & Disability.

A grant, not a loan, to fix an essential system or a serious structural problem that puts a low-income homeowner's life, safety, or health in danger. It is for Tennessee homeowners who are 60 or older or who have a disability, who live in the home as their main residence and have lived there at least three years. Typical work: heating or cooling failures, plumbing or electrical hazards, roof damage, and accessibility repairs. The lifetime maximum per homeowner is $24,999. THDA does not take applications directly; apply through the local ERP agency for your county (THDA publishes the agency list on the program page, or email ERP@THDA.org to be pointed to the right one).

$500–$24,999/yr

TennCare CHOICES is Tennessee's Medicaid long-term-care program. It pays for nursing-home care and home & community based services (personal care, home care, adult day care) for older adults (65+) and adults with physical disabilities (21+) who need a nursing-home level of care, so many can stay in their own home. In 2026 income can't be more than $2,982/month and countable assets can't be more than $2,000 (your home doesn't count). Apply through your Area Agency on Aging & Disability.

$10,000–$80,000/yr

PACE provides all the medical and supportive care a frail older adult needs to keep living in the community instead of a nursing home — doctors, prescriptions, therapy, adult day care, transportation, and in-home help — coordinated by one team. To join you must be 55 or older, need a nursing-home level of care, and be able to live safely in the community. In Tennessee, PACE is offered by Alexian PACE and is available ONLY in Hamilton County (Chattanooga).

$10,000–$80,000/yr

Tennessee operates five State Veterans' Homes providing skilled nursing care for honorably discharged veterans with a Tennessee connection: Murfreesboro, Humboldt, Knoxville (Ben Atchley), Clarksville (Brig. Gen. Wendell H. Gilbert), and Cleveland. Spouses and Gold Star parents may be admitted on a space-available basis. A veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or more can have the VA cover 100% of the cost of the stay through the VA higher per-diem; other residents may pay through Medicare, TennCare (Medicaid), long-term care insurance, or privately. Admission requires needing a skilled level of care, and each home reviews applications individually.

Medicare Savings Programs help people with Medicare pay their Part B premium, and (at the QMB level) also deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Tennessee has three levels — QMB, SLMB, and QI — with rising income limits. As currently published, the highest level (QI) reaches $1,761/month for one person and $2,380/month for a couple; the resource limit is $9,950 (one person) or $14,910 (couple). Apply through TennCare Connect.

$2,100–$8,000/yr

This seasonal program gives eligible Tennessee seniors age 60 and older $40 in vouchers (eight $5 checks) to buy fresh, Tennessee-grown produce from authorized farmers, issued in July and August. Household income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. It operates in a limited set of participating counties, so check whether yours takes part.

$40/yr

Tennessee operates five State Veterans Cemeteries: Nashville (Middle Tennessee, McCrory Lane), two in Knoxville (East Tennessee — the Lyons View Pike location is at capacity, with Gov. John Sevier Highway open), Memphis (West Tennessee), and Parkers Crossroads. Veterans are buried at no charge, and eligible dependents are buried at no cost to the surviving family. The cemeteries meet National Cemetery Administration standards required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans and dependents can pre-register for burial, which settles the eligibility paperwork ahead of need — processing takes about 4 to 6 weeks.

Tennessee Department of Veterans Services officers help veterans and their families file claims for federal VA benefits — disability compensation, pension, Aid and Attendance, and survivor benefits — at no cost. TDVS operates State Veterans Services Offices across the state, from Memphis and Jackson to Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Mountain Home, and also trains County Service Officers who file claims in counties statewide. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in Tennessee: the rating drives federal compensation AND state benefits like the disabled veteran property tax relief. No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim.

Tennessee residents with a qualifying VA disability can get a permanent hunting and sport fishing license for a one-time $10 fee — it stays valid for life, with no annual renewal fees. The license is for veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected cause, or who are 30% or more disabled by reason of service in any war. Apply by mail with the TWRA Disability Restricted License application and the VA certification of the disability. The TWRA sales office in Nashville processes the applications.

Tennessee exempts disabled veterans from the county motor vehicle privilege tax — the county 'wheel tax' collected with the annual vehicle registration. The exemption covers any veteran with a 100% permanent, total disability from a service-connected cause, and any former prisoner of war as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To claim it, show evidence of the disability to the county office that collects the tax, usually the county clerk at registration renewal. The dollar savings equals the county's wheel tax, which varies by county.

Tennessee pays back property taxes for veterans with a total and permanent service-connected disability — and there is NO income limit on this version of the program. The state reimburses the tax paid on up to $175,000 of the home's market value, which in most Tennessee counties covers most or all of the bill. Qualifying conditions include a 100% permanent and total service-connected rating, paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs and the lower body, loss or loss of use of two or more limbs, legal blindness, or a 100% rating from time as a prisoner of war. The home must be owned and used as the primary residence. Apply through the county trustee's office after the tax bill arrives, and re-apply each year.

$875–$1,225/yr

The Property Tax Freeze Program locks in the property tax amount on the home of a homeowner age 65 or older whose income is at or below a limit set for their county. It is a local-option program — each county or city chooses whether to offer it — and the income limit varies by county (the standard minimum for 2026 is $38,470, higher in some counties, up to a $63,470 local-option tier). Apply each year through your county trustee.

$50–$800/yr

Tennessee's Property Tax Relief Program reimburses part of the property tax paid by low-income homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled (and disabled veterans, with no income limit). For the 2026 program, elderly and disabled homeowners must have had 2025 income of $38,470 or less; relief is calculated on up to $33,600 of the home's market value. Apply through your county trustee after you get your property tax bill.

$100–$1,200/yr

WeGo Public Transit runs fixed-route buses across Nashville and Davidson County, and WeGo Access provides door-to-door paratransit for riders who cannot use the regular bus. Riders age 65 and older, Medicare card holders, and people with disabilities can ride local routes at a reduced fare with a WeGo Discount ID. Call WeGo customer care to get a Discount ID or apply for WeGo Access.

$200–$1,500/yr