Queens County, New York vs Fulton County, Georgia

NY HEAP has three components: (1) REGULAR Heating Benefit — annual heating bill assistance; (2) EMERGENCY Benefit — for households in danger of utility shut-off or running out of fuel; (3) COOLING Assistance — buy/install air conditioner or fan, opens annually around April 15. Eligibility tied to income (typically ~60% of state median income) and household size. Seniors age 60+ and households with a disabled member or child under 6 get priority. Apply at mybenefits.ny.gov, through the local county DSS, or NYC HRA (212-331-3126 in NYC). Open application windows: Regular HEAP November-April; Emergency HEAP January-April; Cooling April-August.

$200–$1,500/yr

New York's Veterans Emergency Housing Assistance Fund pays up to $2,000 to a veteran facing an immediate housing hardship without the money to cover it. Covered needs include overdue rent, utilities, or property taxes; fire or natural-disaster damage; temporary shelter when housing is lost or uninhabitable; replacing or repairing an essential appliance like a furnace or water heater; and home changes needed for disability access. The veteran must live in New York State, have a discharge other than dishonorable, and have a net worth at or below the VA's limit for the non-service-connected pension. After the application is submitted, a Veterans Benefits Advisor calls to verify the emergency and the household's income, assets, and expenses — and checks for other benefits the household may qualify for.

$500–$2,000/yr

NYC HRA delivers NY's HEAP for Queens residents: Regular HEAP (annual heating help), Emergency HEAP (utility shut-off / fuel-out crises), and Cooling Assistance (AC unit). Eligibility approximately at 60% State Median Income; seniors 60+ get priority. Apply through ACCESS HRA online (access.nyc.gov), in person at an HRA Job Center, by calling 311, or at a designated NYC Aging Older Adult Center. NYC: 212-331-3126.

$200–$1,500/yr

Queens (Queens County) emergency aid: (1) NYC HRA One-Shot Deal / Cash Assistance for utility shut-off, rent arrears, eviction prevention (212-331-3126); (2) NYC Aging Older Adult Centers for ongoing meals/social services (212-244-6469); (3) NYC H+H for healthcare (844-692-4692); (4) Catholic Charities of New York (212-371-1000, archdiocese-wide) and Catholic Charities Brooklyn-Queens (718-722-6000); (5) Met Council on Jewish Poverty; (6) Borough-specific food pantries via City Harvest. Dial 311 for general referrals or 211 for the United Way 2-1-1 line.

$200–$3,000/yr

EPIC is a New York state program that helps more than 325,000 income-eligible seniors age 65+ supplement their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug costs. Two plans: (1) FEE PLAN for income up to $20,000 single / $26,000 married — modest annual fee, lowest copays; (2) DEDUCTIBLE PLAN for income $20,001-$75,000 single / $26,001-$100,000 married — meet annual deductible first. EPIC also helps pay Medicare Part D premiums for income up to $23,000 single / $29,000 married. Requires Medicare Part D enrollment (or eligibility). Cannot enroll in EPIC if on Medicaid. Apply at health.ny.gov/health_care/epic or by calling 800-332-3742.

$200–$3,000/yr

New York Medicaid Non-MAGI (Aged/Blind/Disabled) covers comprehensive medical, behavioral health, and long-term services & supports for low-income residents age 65+, blind, or disabled. 2026 limits: single-applicant income $1,836/month (approximately 138% FPL — NY is significantly more generous than the federal floor); single-applicant resources $33,038. Married couples (both applying): $2,489/month income, $44,796 resources. Primary residence exempt up to $1,130,000 equity. Apply through the NY State of Health marketplace, ACCESS HRA (NYC residents), or the local county Department of Social Services. Apply at health.ny.gov or by calling 800-541-2831.

$4,000–$50,000/yr

NY Medicare Savings Programs help Medicare beneficiaries pay Part B premiums and (for QMB) deductibles and coinsurance. NY income limits are HIGHER than the federal floor: QMB up to ~$1,800/month single / $2,432 couple (138% FPL); SLMB to ~$2,160/month single / $2,918 couple (165% FPL); QI to ~$2,427/month single / $3,279 couple (186% FPL). NO RESOURCE TEST in NY (the federal $9,660 / $14,470 resource test was removed in NY as of 2023). Apply through county DSS, NYC HRA (212-331-3126), or the NY State of Health marketplace.

$2,098–$8,000/yr

NYC Health + Hospitals operates the city's public hospital safety net. HHC Options is a sliding-scale fee program for uninsured or underinsured patients regardless of immigration status — applies to all H+H hospitals and Gotham Health clinics, including those serving Queens. Patients pay a flat reduced rate based on family income (typically 0%-100% FPL = no cost; 100%-400% FPL = sliding scale). Apply at any H+H facility or online at nychealthandhospitals.org. Queens primary H+H hospitals: NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens (Queens).

$500–$30,000/yr

PACE is a comprehensive, integrated care program for seniors who are certified as needing a nursing-home level of care but want to keep living in the community. A single PACE organization becomes the participant's complete medical home — primary care, specialists, hospital care, prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, transportation to appointments, meals, and adult day care at a PACE center. For New Yorkers who have both Medicare and Medicaid (or Medicaid only), PACE covers all of it with no out-of-pocket cost. PACE in New York is for people 55 and older who are assessed as needing community-based long-term care for more than 120 days at a nursing-home level of care, who live within a PACE organization's service area, and who can be served safely at home. Participants agree to use only PACE-network providers.

$30,000–$80,000/yr

Enhanced STAR provides an increased school property tax exemption for homeowners age 65+ with combined household income up to approximately $110,750 (2026 limit). Available as either a direct exemption on the school tax bill or as a STAR credit check from NY Tax. Must be the primary residence. Apply through the local assessor (for the exemption) or register with NY Tax (for the credit) at tax.ny.gov/star. New applicants since 2015 generally receive the credit version (a check) rather than the exemption.

$200–$1,500/yr

New York pays a monthly annuity to legally blind wartime veterans — and to their unremarried surviving spouses — who live in New York State. The 2025 rate is $141.33 per month, about $1,696 per year. The blindness does not need to be connected to military service: legal blindness means 20/200 vision in the better eye with best correction, or a field of vision limited to 20 degrees. The veteran needs wartime service of at least 90 days on active duty (less if discharged early for a service-connected disability). Apply by mailing the Blind Annuity application and a Report of Legal Blindness form, with the discharge paperwork, to DVS — or call 1-888-838-7697 for help.

$1,695–$1,696/yr

Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) is how New York delivers community-based long-term care to people who need it for more than 120 days. It serves residents (generally age 18 and older, and especially seniors 65+) who have Medicaid — or who qualify for Medicaid — and who are assessed as needing a nursing-home level of care that can instead be provided at home. An MLTC plan coordinates and pays for home care, personal care, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPAS), home health aide and nursing visits, physical and occupational therapy at home, adult day health care, home-delivered meals, and related services, so a person can remain in the community rather than enter a nursing home. Enrollment begins with a free assessment by the New York Independent Assessor (NYIA), which confirms the need for community-based long-term services and supports; the person must also be financially eligible for New York Medicaid (for 2026, single-applicant income at or below $1,836/month and countable resources at or below $33,038, with spend-down and spousal-impoverishment protections available). Call the New York Independent Assessor at 1-855-222-8350 to request an assessment, then New York Medicaid Choice at 1-888-401-6582 to choose a plan.

$20,000–$80,000/yr

New York operates five State Veterans' Homes — skilled nursing facilities in Oxford, Montrose, St. Albans (Queens), Batavia, and Long Island (Stony Brook) — owned and run by the State Department of Health and SUNY. They serve veterans who need skilled nursing care, and in some cases spouses and Gold Star parents. A spouse may be admitted if married to an eligible veteran for at least one year before applying and also in need of skilled nursing care. The state reports no out-of-pocket cost to the veteran for routine skilled nursing care, with coverage arranged through VA, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits. Call 1-888-838-7697 or a home directly to ask about admission.

NYC Aging (DFTA) operates 300+ Older Adult Centers (OACs) across all 5 boroughs serving ~30,000 New Yorkers age 60+ daily with healthy meals, fitness classes, social activities, and case management — membership is FREE. Additional services: Home-Delivered Meals (HDM) for homebound seniors; Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) social services; Caregiver Support; Legal Services; Geriatric Mental Health (licensed clinicians at OACs in every borough). Find a Queens Older Adult Center or apply for HDM by calling DFTA at 212-244-6469 or 311 (Aging Connect).

$1,200–$6,000/yr

New York resident veterans with a service-related disability of 40% or more pay just $5 for the first hunting, fishing, or trapping license bought in a calendar year — and the other license types are free that same year. Qualifying veterans also get free bowhunting and muzzleloading privileges (with a base hunting license) and preference in the Deer Management Permit selection. Enrollment happens once: bring a VA letter showing the case number and a service-related disability of 40% or more to any license issuing agent. After that, licenses can be renewed online, by phone at 1-866-933-2257, or at an agent location without showing the letter again.

New York State's Veterans Benefits Advisors — each a veteran — prepare and file VA claims at no cost for veterans, spouses, children, and parents, working from field offices across the state. They help with disability compensation, the non-service-connected pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for survivors, Special Monthly Compensation, and appeals, and they gather the supporting documents. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in New York: the rating drives federal compensation AND the disability add-on to the state's veterans property tax exemptions. No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim. Call 1-888-838-7697 or book a phone or video consultation online.

New York's first state-run veterans cemetery — the New York State Veterans Cemetery – Finger Lakes — sits on 162 acres along Seneca Lake in Romulus, Seneca County, and is open for interments. The State Department of Veterans' Services has managed it since February 2023. Burial is available to veterans discharged from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions, plus the veteran's legal spouse and eligible dependent children; certain reservists and National Guard members also qualify. Each burial includes a 30-minute committal service at the cemetery shelter, with cemetery staff completing the interment. Making pre-arrangements with a funeral director ahead of need keeps the discharge paperwork easy to find when it matters.

New York reduces the assessed value of a wartime veteran's primary residence for property tax purposes: 15% off for serving during a designated time of war (or earning an expeditionary medal), an additional 10% for serving in a combat zone, and a further reduction for a service-connected disability equal to half the VA disability rating. Each county, city, town, village, and school district chooses whether to offer the exemption and sets its own dollar caps, so the benefit differs from one locality to the next. The home must be the primary residence, owned by the veteran, the veteran's spouse, or the unremarried surviving spouse. Apply once with Form RP-458-a at the local assessor's office — in most communities the deadline is March 1. The base 15% benefit does not require any disability rating.

$100–$2,500/yr

New York offers a separate property tax exemption for veterans who served on active duty during the Cold War period — September 2, 1945 through December 26, 1991 — even without wartime or combat service. Where a locality has adopted it, the exemption reduces the home's assessed value by 10% or 15% (the locality chooses), with locally-set dollar caps. A veteran with a service-connected disability gets a further reduction equal to half the VA disability rating, and that disability portion never expires. The basic exemption lasts 10 years unless the locality has removed the time limit. The home must be owned by the veteran, the veteran's spouse, or the unremarried surviving spouse. Apply at the local assessor's office.

MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard (and OMNY) cuts subway, bus, and Staten Island Railway fares in half for riders age 65+ or with a qualifying disability. Access-A-Ride is the MTA's ADA paratransit for people who cannot use the subway or bus due to disability — covers all 5 boroughs door-to-door. Reduced-Fare: apply online at new.mta.info/fares/reduced-fare or in person at MetroCard offices. Access-A-Ride: apply by calling 877-337-2017 for an eligibility assessment.

$500–$3,500/yr

Georgia's Caregiver Support services help family members and friends who care for an older adult. Through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Division of Aging Services and the local Area Agencies on Aging offer information and one-on-one help finding services, counseling and support groups, caregiver training, and respite care that gives a caregiver a needed break — including in-home personal care or homemaker help and adult day services. These supports are available to family caregivers of adults 60 and older, and to caregivers of people of any age living with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia. There is generally no income test, though some respite services use a suggested cost-share. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the Aging & Disability Resource Connection to get started.

$500–$5,000/yr

Georgia's Non-Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services help older Georgians live safely and independently at home when they don't qualify for Medicaid. Funded largely through the Older Americans Act and state aging dollars, the program offers a range of supports through the local Area Agencies on Aging — including in-home personal care and homemaker help, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, adult day care, home modifications and assistive devices, and care coordination. Services are for adults 60 and older, prioritized for those with the greatest social and economic need; there is generally no strict income test, though a voluntary cost-share may be suggested. Because funding is limited, there can be a waiting list. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the Aging & Disability Resource Connection to find what's available in your area.

$500–$6,000/yr

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the Area Agency on Aging for Fulton County, serving older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers through its Empowerline service. ARC's aging team is a No Wrong Door / Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) access point: one call connects you to information and help with in-home care, home-delivered and group meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits screening, and the Medicaid Community Care Services Program waiver. Services are for adults 60 and older (caregivers and people with disabilities are also served), with priority for those in greatest need. Reach Empowerline at 404-463-3333.

$500–$6,000/yr

Georgia's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay their home heating and cooling bills. It offers a regular seasonal payment toward energy costs and crisis help when a household faces a shutoff or is already without service. Households qualify if their total gross income is at or below 60% of the state median income and they are responsible for their home energy costs. Seniors 65 and older and people who are medically homebound get an early application window — heating assistance opens for them the first workday of December, and cooling assistance the first workday of April, ahead of the general public. The program is run locally by Community Action Agencies, and applicants are served first-come, first-served until funds run out, so applying early matters.

$350–$1,000/yr

The Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority (FACAA) delivers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Fulton County and the City of Atlanta. LIHEAP makes a one-time payment toward a household's home heating or cooling bill to reduce the energy burden on income-eligible households. Households qualify with income at or below 60% of the state median income, and seniors 65 and older and the medically homebound can apply early in each season. FACAA also runs the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program and other Community Services Block Grant supports. Appointments are scheduled online or by phone (470-437-4621); apply early because help is first-come, first-served until funds run out.

$350–$1,000/yr

Georgia Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) is the state's full-benefit Medicaid for low-income seniors 65 and older and for people who are blind or disabled at any age. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, lab work, and medical equipment, and works alongside Medicare to pay costs Medicare doesn't. Georgia is an SSI (1634) state, which means anyone who receives federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is automatically enrolled in Medicaid with no separate application. Seniors who don't get SSI may still qualify under the same SSI financial standards — monthly income at or below the SSI benefit rate ($994 for an individual, $1,491 for a couple) and countable assets at or below $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple). Countable assets exclude the primary home and one vehicle. Seniors whose income or assets are slightly over the limit may still get help through other Georgia Medicaid pathways such as the Medicare Savings Programs or the Community Care Services Program waiver.

$4,000–$12,000/yr

Grady Health System is the public safety-net hospital for Fulton County, anchored by Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta. Grady's Financial Assistance Program provides free or discounted hospital care to patients who cannot afford to pay. Eligibility is based on household income measured against the federal poverty guidelines, along with family size and county of residence; qualifying patients receive a charity-care discount or a sliding-scale reduction. You can apply before a scheduled service or up to 240 days after your first billing statement. A financial counselor can help you complete the application.

$500–$20,000/yr

The Community Care Services Program (CCSP) is Georgia's Medicaid waiver that lets frail seniors and adults with disabilities receive care at home or in the community instead of moving to a nursing home. Services can include in-home personal support and homemaker help, adult day health, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, respite for family caregivers, and skilled nursing or therapy in the home. To qualify you must be a Georgia resident, meet a nursing-home level of care (decided by a care assessment), and meet Medicaid's financial rules — the waiver uses the higher institutional income limit of 300% of the SSI benefit rate ($2,982/month in 2026) with countable assets at or below $2,000. There is often a waiting list. Start by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging or the Aging & Disability Resource Connection.

$6,000–$25,000/yr

SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment) is a Georgia Medicaid program that combines the home- and community-based services of the Community Care Services Program with enhanced primary-care case management. It is designed for frail seniors and adults with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare-style assistance and who would otherwise need nursing-home care. A care coordinator links each member to a primary-care physician and arranges in-home personal support, home-delivered meals, adult day health, respite, and emergency response so the member can stay safely at home. To qualify you must be a Georgia resident, meet a nursing-home level of care, and be financially eligible for Medicaid (the program serves members who qualify as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary). Apply through your local Area Agency on Aging or the Aging & Disability Resource Connection.

$6,000–$25,000/yr

Georgia operates two state homes for veterans who need skilled nursing care: the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta and the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville. The homes serve Georgia veterans who served on active duty during recognized wartime periods and were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. Residents pay a nominal daily fee, and the VA covers the fee for veterans admitted for a service-connected condition or rated 70 percent or higher service-connected disabled. Applicants must be approved by the VA as needing skilled nursing care and meet Georgia residency rules. Contact the admissions office at either home, or any GDVS Veterans Field Service Office, to apply.

Medicare Savings Programs help Georgia seniors on Medicare pay their Medicare costs. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program pays the Medicare Part B premium plus deductibles, coinsurance, and copays — and QMB enrollees also get the Extra Help that lowers prescription-drug costs. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Qualifying Individual (QI) programs pay the monthly Part B premium for seniors with somewhat higher income. For 2026, QMB covers individuals with monthly income at or below $1,350 ($1,824 for a couple) and countable resources at or below $9,950 ($14,910 for a couple); SLMB and QI use higher income limits. Apply through Georgia Medicaid; free help is available from a GeorgiaCares Medicare counselor.

$2,100–$8,000/yr

The Georgia Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives low-income seniors benefits to buy fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs at approved Georgia farmers' markets during the market season (about May through mid-October). To qualify you must be a Georgia resident, be 60 years of age or older, and have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. Eligible seniors receive a benefit allotment once per season, on a first-come, first-served basis, distributed through participating Area Agencies on Aging. Along with the benefits, participants get nutrition information and tips for selecting and preparing fresh produce.

$30–$50/yr

Georgia residents with a permanent and total disability rating from the VA can get a deeply discounted hunting and fishing license from the Department of Natural Resources. The Sportsman's Disability License costs $5 a year or $15 for three years (plus a $3 transaction fee) and includes all state-paid hunting and fishing privileges — hunting, big game, migratory bird stamp, and both freshwater and saltwater fishing. A regular sportsman's license costs far more, so the discount adds up for anyone who hunts or fishes every year. The license cannot be bought online: mail the application form with the VA benefit letter and proof of Georgia residency. Separately, veterans discharged on or after July 1, 2005 can get a free one-time, one-year sportsman's license.

The Georgia Department of Veterans Service helps veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors file VA claims at no cost. VA-accredited Veterans Service Officers at field offices across Georgia assist with disability compensation, pension, Aid and Attendance, and survivor benefits, and support appeals when a claim is denied. Getting the VA rating right matters twice in Georgia: the rating drives federal compensation AND the state's disabled-veteran property and vehicle tax exemptions. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted. No one needs to pay a private company to file a VA claim.

GeorgiaCares is Georgia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free, unbiased, one-on-one help for people on Medicare and their caregivers. Certified counselors explain your Medicare options, compare Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans during open enrollment, help you enroll, sort out billing and claims problems, file appeals, and screen you for programs that lower your costs such as the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. GeorgiaCares is not connected to any insurance company and never sells insurance, so the guidance is impartial and free. Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 1-866-552-4464 and choosing option 4, or through your local Area Agency on Aging.

Free civil legal help for Georgians 60 and older. ELAP handles public benefits, Social Security, healthcare and long-term care facility issues, consumer protection, housing and utilities, abuse/neglect/exploitation, age discrimination, and planning documents like advance directives. There is no income test, and clients never pay — the state pays local law firms to provide the services. Call the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 866-552-4464 to find the ELAP law firm for your county.

Georgia operates two state veterans cemeteries: Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville and in Glennville. Burial plots, vaults, niches, and grave markers are provided at no charge, and the committal chapel for the service is also free. Veterans discharged under other than dishonorable conditions qualify, along with spouses, unmarried dependents under 21, and eligible lifelong dependents. The family covers only outside costs like transportation and funeral-home arrangements. Contact either cemetery to confirm eligibility ahead of time — the paperwork includes the DD-214 and, for a spouse, the marriage certificate.

Georgia gives qualifying disabled veterans one of the largest property tax breaks in the state: an exemption of up to $121,812 (the 2025 amount, adjusted each year by a federal index) off the assessed value of the home. The exemption applies to state, county, city, and school property taxes on the home the veteran owns and lives in. It covers veterans rated 100 percent totally disabled by the VA, veterans paid at the 100 percent rate because they cannot work, and veterans with certain VA awards for loss of hands, feet, or sight. An unremarried surviving spouse or minor child can keep the exemption while living in the home. Apply once with the county tax commissioner or tax assessors office using the VA award letter.

$1,500–$4,300/yr

Georgia exempts one vehicle owned by or leased to a qualifying disabled veteran from all vehicle ad valorem taxes. The exemption covers veterans the VA verifies as 100 percent totally and permanently service-connected disabled, veterans rated unemployable, and veterans receiving a VA statutory award for loss of hands, feet, or sight. It applies to only one vehicle at a time, and the veteran can move it to a new vehicle after selling or replacing the old one. An unremarried surviving spouse or minor child can continue the exemption. Claim it at the county tag office with the VA letter and the state's veterans affidavit (Form MV-30).

Georgia homeowners who own and live in their home as their primary residence can claim a homestead exemption that lowers their property taxes. Every resident homeowner qualifies for a standard $2,000 exemption from county and school taxes. Homeowners 65 and older may claim an additional $4,000 exemption from all county property taxes if their income (and their spouse's) did not exceed $10,000 for the prior year — and most retirement, pension, and Social Security income is excluded from that $10,000 count, so many seniors on a fixed income qualify. Seniors 62 and older may also claim added exemptions for school taxes, and a separate floating inflation-proof exemption is available at 62+ with income under $30,000. Many Georgia counties offer larger local senior exemptions on top of these, so it's worth checking with your county tax commissioner. Apply once with your county tax commissioner; the exemption then renews automatically as long as you qualify.

$200–$1,500/yr

MARTA operates the bus and rail system serving Fulton County. Riders 65 and older qualify for a Reduced Fare Breeze card and pay just $1 per trip instead of the standard fare. People with a qualifying disability and Medicare cardholders are also eligible for the reduced fare. To get the card, show a valid photo ID with your date of birth (driver's license, state ID, or passport); the first card is free. The reduced-fare Breeze card works system-wide on MARTA bus and rail — just tap and ride.

$200–$1,500/yr