Hennepin County, Minnesota vs Maricopa County, Arizona

General Assistance (GA) is a monthly cash payment for Minnesota adults with little or no income who cannot work. You may qualify if a doctor or other professional certifies an illness, injury or disability that keeps you from working for more than 45 days, if advanced age keeps you from working, if you must stay home to care for a household member who is ill, disabled or elderly, or if you are waiting on a Social Security disability or SSI decision. Your income and assets must be under the state's limits. GA is often used while you wait for other benefits, and you may need to apply for them too. Apply at MNbenefits or through your county human services office.

Minnesotans who are 65 or older, or who have a permanent and total disability and get taxable disability income, may be able to subtract up to $9,600 ($12,000 for a married couple filing jointly) from their Minnesota taxable income. It is for people with lower incomes: for a single filer, adjusted gross income must be under $33,700 and nontaxable Social Security plus Railroad Retirement benefits under $9,600. For a married couple filing jointly, the limits are $42,000 (both 65+ or disabled) or $38,500 (one spouse), with benefits under $12,000. Claim it on Schedule M1R with the Minnesota income tax return — there is no separate application.

Estimated bill savings: $0–$640 a year

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 state pays the rest as a loan, with interest of no more than 5%, paid back when the home is sold or the deferral is canceled. Apply by November 1 to defer the next year's taxes. Payments are capped at 3% of income while enrolled, and once accepted you do not need to reapply yearly.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$2,000 a year

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.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$2,720 a year

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.

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, applying for discharge upgrades, 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.

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.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$1,500 a year