Hennepin County, Minnesota vs Maricopa County, Arizona

Minnesota Aging Pathways (1-800-333-2433) — formerly the Senior LinkAge Line — is Minnesota's free, statewide help line for older adults and caregivers: Medicare counseling (Minnesota's SHIP), help comparing Part D and Medigap plans, screening for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, long-term care options counseling, and connections to local services. Operated by the Minnesota Board on Aging through the Area Agencies on Aging. The name changed in 2026; the service and phone number are unchanged.

$100–$2,000/yr

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging is the Minnesota Board on Aging's designated Area Agency on Aging for Hennepin County. It administers Older Americans Act services for adults 60 and over and family caregivers — benefits counseling, caregiver support, home-delivered and congregate meals, chore and homemaker help, and local aging services. Call 651-641-8612 or Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) at 800-333-2433 to get connected.

$200–$2,000/yr

Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay heating bills, with crisis help and emergency furnace repair. Household income must be at or below 50% of the state median income. Heating benefits for FY 2026 range from $200 to $1,400, with crisis assistance up to $600; the heating season runs October 1 through May 31. Apply through the local EAP service provider (each county has one — see the county intake record).

$200–$1,400/yr

Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County takes Minnesota Energy Assistance Program applications for Hennepin County residents — help paying heating bills, crisis help, and emergency furnace repair. Household income must be at or below 50% of the state median income (see the statewide Energy Assistance record for details). The heating season program runs October 1 through May 31. Call 952-930-3541 to apply through the local provider.

$200–$1,400/yr

SNAP provides a monthly benefit on an EBT card for groceries. Most households qualify with gross monthly income at or below $2,609 for one person / $3,525 for two. If you are 60 or older or disabled and your income is above these amounts, you may still qualify — deductions for medical costs and housing often apply. Apply at MNbenefits or through the county office.

$300–$3,500/yr

Medical Assistance is Minnesota's Medicaid program — it pays for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term care supports with no monthly cost to enrollees. For adults 65 and older or people who are blind or have a disability, the monthly income limit is $1,330 for one person / $1,804 for two, with an asset limit of $3,000 for one and $6,000 for a household of two or more. Higher-income applicants may still qualify with a spenddown.

$2,000–$15,000/yr

Uninsured and underinsured residents of Hennepin County can apply for financial assistance (charity care) at Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC, Minneapolis) for emergency and medically necessary care. Free or discounted care is based on household income and size under the hospital's financial assistance policy.

Alternative Care pays for home and community services — homemaker help, home-delivered meals, adult day services, personal care, home modifications — for Minnesotans 65 and older who need a nursing-home level of care but are not yet eligible for Medical Assistance. Start with a long-term care consultation through the county or Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) at 800-333-2433; the assessment determines financial and care eligibility. A monthly fee based on income may apply.

$1,000–$15,000/yr

The Elderly Waiver funds home and community-based services — case management, homemaker and chore services, adult day services, respite care, assisted-living services — for people 65 and older who are eligible for Medical Assistance and need a nursing-home level of care but choose to live in the community. Start with a long-term care consultation through the county or Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line) at 800-333-2433.

$5,000–$30,000/yr

Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. Monthly income limits effective 7/1/26–6/30/27: QMB $1,350 single / $1,824 couple (pays Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and copays); SLMB $1,616 / $2,184 (pays the Part B premium); QI $1,816 / $2,455 (pays the Part B premium). The asset limit is $10,000 for one person and $18,000 for two or more. Apply through the county office or MNbenefits.

$2,100–$5,200/yr

The Homestead Credit Refund is a state refund for homeowners whose property taxes are high relative to income. For refunds based on taxes payable in 2026, household income must be less than $142,490. File Form M1PR by August 15; refunds can reach several thousand dollars depending on income and property tax.

$100–$3,500/yr

Lets homeowners 65 or older (if married, one spouse 65+ and the other at least 62) with household income of $96,000 or less defer part of their homestead property tax. The deferred tax becomes a low-interest state lien paid back when the home is sold. Payments are capped at 3% of income while enrolled, and once accepted you do not need to reapply yearly.

$200–$2,000/yr

Renters whose rent contributes to property taxes can claim the Renter's Credit — since tax year 2024 it is claimed on the Minnesota income tax return (Schedule M1RENT) instead of a separate M1PR filing. Household income must be under $77,570, and the maximum refund is $2,720. A Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) from the landlord is required.

$100–$2,720/yr

Metro Transit provides public transit service for Hennepin County riders under MnDOT's Greater Minnesota / metro transit program — typically dial-a-ride or deviated-route buses usable for medical appointments, shopping, and errands. Reduced fares for seniors and ADA paratransit vary by system. Call 612-373-3333 to schedule a ride or ask about senior fares.

$150–$1,500/yr

The Soldiers Assistance Program provides short-term financial help to eligible Minnesota veterans and their dependents — subsistence help for veterans unable to work due to a temporary disability, plus dental and optical benefits for those with limited income. Apply through your County Veterans Service Officer, who prepares and submits the application to MDVA. Call your county CVSO or LinkVet at 1-888-546-5838.

$500–$5,000/yr

This program helps family and unpaid caregivers with information, help getting services, individual counseling, support groups, caregiver training, respite care, and limited supplemental services. It serves caregivers age 18+ caring for someone 60 or older (or any age with Alzheimer's/dementia), and older relatives age 55+ raising children or caring for an adult with a disability. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the Arizona Caregiver Resource Line.

The Area Agency on Aging, Region One is the federally designated agency that plans and funds Older Americans Act services for Maricopa County adults age 60 and older, their family caregivers, and adults with disabilities. Covered communities include Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Chandler, and the large retirement communities of Sun City and Sun City West. Services include case management, home-delivered and congregate meals, homemaking and personal care, family caregiver support and respite, and free Medicare and benefits counseling. Reach the 24-hour Senior HELP LINE at 602-264-4357 or the main line at 1-888-783-7500 to start.

$1,200–$6,000/yr

The Military Family Relief Fund helps Arizona service members, veterans, and their families through financial hardship caused by the service member's military service — up to $20,000 per family, based on need. There are two parts: a post-9/11 fund and a pre-9/11 fund, so veterans of Vietnam, Korea, and other earlier eras can apply too. The core requirement is that the service member was deceased, wounded, injured, or became seriously ill in connection with service, has an Arizona connection (deployed from an Arizona base, Arizona home of record, Arizona National Guard, or established residency), and has lived in Arizona for at least the 12 months before applying. Help can include living expenses such as mortgage, rent, and utilities. An advisory committee reviews each application.

$500–$20,000/yr

LIHEAP helps Arizona households pay heating and cooling utility bills and handle energy emergencies. Eligibility is based on income at or below 60% of the State Median Income — in federal fiscal year 2026 that is about $33,690/year for one person, $44,056 for two, $54,422 for three, and $64,789 for a household of four (higher for larger households). Households already getting SNAP or cash assistance are automatically income-eligible. Apply through your local Community Action Agency.

$200–$1,500/yr

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps Maricopa County households with limited income pay electric and gas bills, with extra crisis help to prevent shutoffs during Arizona's dangerous summer heat. Outside the cities of Glendale, Mesa, and Phoenix, the county's Human Services Department delivers LIHEAP through Community Action Program (CAP) offices; residents of those three cities apply through their city program. Apply online through the Human Services client portal or through a local Community Action office; 2-1-1 Arizona can route callers to the nearest site. LIHEAP service line: 1-866-494-1981.

$200–$1,140/yr

AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program. The SSI-MAO pathway covers people who are age 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, with income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level ($1,330/month for one person, $1,804 for a couple, as of February 2026). There is no separate asset test listed for SSI-MAO on the AHCCCS eligibility chart, and there is no premium. Coverage is delivered through an AHCCCS managed-care health plan. Apply at Health-e-Arizona Plus.

$4,000–$30,000/yr

Arizona's SHIP gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling. Trained counselors help compare Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, and Medigap, and help enroll in programs that lower Medicare costs (Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Program). Counselors do not sell or endorse any plan. Call 1-800-432-4040.

Valleywise Health is the public safety-net hospital system for Maricopa County, run by the county Special Health Care District. Its financial assistance program lowers or eliminates hospital bills for uninsured and low-income patients based on household size and income relative to the Federal Poverty Level, with a sliding discount for higher incomes. Patients in the Phoenix metro also have financial-assistance options at Banner Health (bannerhealth.com), HonorHealth (honorhealth.com), and Dignity Health / CommonSpirit St. Joseph's (dignityhealth.org); Valleywise is highlighted here as the county's safety-net provider. Call Eligibility Specialists at 602-344-2550 to apply.

Arizona's aging network provides non-Medicaid in-home and community support for residents age 60 and older — personal care, homemaker help, home-delivered and congregate meals, case management, assisted transportation, and caregiver support — so older adults can stay in their own home. Area Agency on Aging case managers determine eligibility. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

ALTCS is Arizona's Medicaid long-term-care program. It pays for nursing-facility care and home & community-based services (personal care, home care, adult day care) for people who need a nursing-home level of care, so many can stay in their own home. You must need that level of care, have income at or below 300% of the SSI benefit rate ($2,982/month in 2026), and have countable resources of $2,000 or less. Apply through the ALTCS office or Health-e-Arizona Plus.

$10,000–$80,000/yr

Arizona runs four State Veteran Homes providing skilled nursing care for veterans and their spouses: Phoenix (104 beds), Tucson (120 beds, with a 30-bed memory care unit), Flagstaff (80 beds, with memory care and a Medicare rehab unit), and Yuma (80 beds, with a 20-bed memory care unit). The homes are state-owned and Medicare-certified, and the memory care units serve residents with Alzheimer's or other dementia. Admission is open to an honorably-separated veteran or the spouse of a veteran who needs skilled nursing care as determined by a physician. Residents pay a daily rate, and VA benefits can offset the cost — an ADVS Veteran Benefits Counselor works in each home and can help sort out what the VA will cover.

Medicare Savings Programs help people with Medicare pay their Part B premium, and (at the QMB level) also deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Arizona has three levels — QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 — with rising income limits. In 2026 the highest level (QI-1) reaches about $1,796/month for one person and $2,435/month for a couple. Arizona applies NO asset/resource test to these programs. Apply at Health-e-Arizona Plus.

$2,100–$8,000/yr

This program gives Arizona residents age 60 or older a $50 coupon (once a year) to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from participating farmers. Household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $2,461/month for one person, $3,337 for two), or you can qualify by being in the Commodity Senior Food Program. Coupons are first-come, first-served and mailed to eligible seniors. Apply through the Arizona Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

$50/yr

Arizona's Veteran Benefits Counselors give free help to veterans, their dependents, and survivors with federal and state benefits — preparing and filing VA disability compensation and pension claims, appealing VA decisions, representing claimants at VA hearings, filing survivor benefits, requesting military records, and certifying DD-214 discharge paperwork. All counselors are accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in Arizona: the rating drives federal compensation AND the state property tax exemption, which is prorated by the disability percentage. Counselors work in person, by phone, or virtually across Arizona, including at the State Veteran Homes in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim.

Arizona law gives a free hunting and fishing license to a veteran who receives U.S. government compensation for a permanent service-connected disability rated 100% disabling. The complimentary license carries the privileges of a combination hunting and fishing license. The veteran must have lived in Arizona for at least one year before applying. When the VA letter shows the 100% rating is permanent and will not be re-evaluated, the license is issued for the holder's lifetime — otherwise it is valid for three years at a time. Apply through the Arizona Game and Fish Department with a copy of the VA benefits letter.

Arizona operates three state veterans' cemeteries: the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo in Bellemont (near Flagstaff), the Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana (near Tucson), and the Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista. Burial for an eligible veteran includes the gravesite, opening and closing, a concrete liner for casket burials, a government marker, and perpetual care at no cost. Spouses, un-remarried widows and widowers, minor children, and in some cases unmarried adult dependent children may also be buried there — and an eligible spouse may be buried even if they pass away before the veteran. Options include in-ground casket burial, in-ground urn burial, and columbarium placement. Applying ahead of need settles the eligibility paperwork in advance and spares the family that step later.

Arizona reduces property taxes for veterans with a VA disability rating. For 2026 the exemption is $4,873 of assessed value, multiplied by the disability percentage — a 50% rating exempts about $2,437 of assessed value, and both service-connected and non-service-connected VA ratings count. New for tax year 2026: a veteran rated 100% service-connected has the home fully exempt from property tax, even if the property is jointly owned, and the surviving spouse keeps that full exemption while living in the home and unmarried. Household income for the prior year must be $39,865 or less ($47,826 with a minor or disabled child at home) — but Social Security and VA payments do not count toward that limit, so many retirees qualify on paper income that looks higher. Apply with the county assessor between early January and March 1, with the VA letter showing the rating.

$40–$2,000/yr

This is a refundable Arizona income-tax credit (up to $502) for low-income residents who are 65 or older, or who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It helps with property tax OR rent paid on your main Arizona home — so renters can claim it too. You must have lived in Arizona all year and have very low household income (as defined for this credit). File Form 140PTC by April 15.

up to $502/yr

Arizona gives a property-tax exemption (reducing assessed value by $4,873 for 2026) to widows, widowers, and people with a total and permanent disability who own a home in Arizona. Household income from all sources must be $39,865 or less (or $47,826 with minor children or a disabled dependent), and the total assessed value of your Arizona property must be $36,454 or less. Apply to your county assessor between the first Monday in January and March 1.

$100–$600/yr

This program freezes the taxable (limited) value of the home for Arizona homeowners age 65 or older, so that value can't rise while you qualify. To qualify, at least one owner must be 65+, you must have owned and lived in the home for the prior two years as your primary residence, and your 3-year-average total income from all sources must be $47,712 or less (one owner) or $59,640 or less (two or more owners). Apply to your county assessor on Form 82104 by September 1.

$100–$1,500/yr

Valley Metro operates buses and light rail across the Phoenix metro area and offers a Reduced Fare program for riders age 65 and older, Medicare cardholders, and people with disabilities — roughly half of the standard fare with a Reduced Fare ID card. Riders who cannot use fixed-route service due to a disability can use city Dial-a-Ride ADA paratransit and the RideChoice program, which books trips through taxis and rideshare partners. Serves Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Chandler, and surrounding cities. Call 602-716-2100 for paratransit or apply for a Reduced Fare ID card online.

$200–$1,200/yr