Hennepin County, Minnesota vs Lee County, Florida

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.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

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

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.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$3,500 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

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.

Estimated cash: $500–$5,000 a year

Optional State Supplementation is a monthly cash payment from the State of Florida that supplements an SSI-eligible senior's income so they can afford the cost of an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), Adult Family Care Home (AFCH), or Mental Health Residential Treatment Facility. OSS is for low-income seniors and disabled adults who need help with the activities of daily living but who do not require nursing-home-level care. The state pays the difference between the resident's countable income and a published 'provider rate plus personal needs allowance' total — for an individual in an ALF the monthly income eligibility standard is $1,045.40 and the base provider rate is $991.40, plus a $160 monthly Personal Needs Allowance the resident keeps for incidentals (Florida Administrative Code 65A-2.036, effective June 24, 2025). To qualify, you must meet SSI's categorical eligibility (age 65+, blind, or disabled with countable income and resources below the SSI limits), be assessed as needing the level of care the facility provides, and reside in a state-licensed facility that accepts OSS payments. Eligibility is determined by DCF; payments are made monthly.

Estimated cash: $1,200–$9,600 a year

Florida runs State Veterans' Nursing Homes around the state — including Daytona Beach, Land O' Lakes, Pembroke Pines, Panama City, Port Charlotte, St. Augustine, and Port St. Lucie — plus a veterans' assisted living facility in Lake City. They provide skilled nursing care or assisted living for veterans who need help with daily living, generally at below private-market rates because federal VA per-diem support helps cover the cost. Florida law also makes the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran eligible, with admission priority behind eligible veterans. Admission requires Florida residency, needing the level of care, and approval by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Florida gives free hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses to resident veterans who were honorably discharged and have a VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or more. The license is good for 5 years and is reissued on request every 5 years after that. Bring the VA letter showing the rating and proof of Florida residency to a county tax collector's office. Florida residents certified as totally and permanently disabled by the VA, workers' compensation, or Social Security qualify for free licenses under the same law even without the 50% veteran rating.

Estimated service value: $40–$50 a year

Florida law directs the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs to help veterans, their spouses, and their dependents prepare and file claims for VA benefits — disability compensation, pension, Aid and Attendance, survivor benefits — at no charge. FDVA claims examiners work alongside County Veteran Service Officers available in counties across the state. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in Florida: the rating drives federal compensation AND unlocks state benefits like the disabled-veteran property tax exemptions and free licenses. No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim.

Florida residents who are active or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Reserves, the National Guard, or the Coast Guard can buy the Military Gold Sportsman's License for $18.50 a year — the same package that costs other residents $98.50. It bundles the hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses along with the deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading gun, crossbow, turkey, Florida waterfowl, snook, and spiny lobster permits. Show a current military ID at a county tax collector's office, or verify online through Florida's license portal.

Estimated service value: $75–$85 a year