Dane County, Wisconsin vs Pima County, Arizona

ADRC of Dane County is the county's one-stop for aging help: benefits counseling (Medicare, FoodShare, Medicaid), long-term-care options and Family Care/IRIS enrollment, caregiver support, home-delivered and senior dining meals, transportation arrangements, and falls-prevention programs. Services are free and open to adults 60 and over and adults with disabilities. Call 608-240-7400 or the statewide line 1-844-947-2372.

$200–$2,000/yr

WHEAP helps low-income Wisconsin households pay heating and electric bills, with crisis help and emergency furnace repair or replacement. For the 2025-2026 program year (October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026), household income must be at or below 60% of the state median: $38,421 a year for one person, $50,243 for two. One regular benefit payment per heating season. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov or through the local county energy assistance agency.

$100–$1,500/yr

Energy Services Inc - WHEAP takes Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program applications for Dane County residents — heating and electric bill help, crisis assistance, and emergency furnace repair. Household income must be at or below 60% of the state median (see the statewide WHEAP listing for current figures). Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov, or by phone, mail, or in person through the local agency at 800-506-5596.

$100–$1,500/yr

FoodShare is Wisconsin's SNAP program — a monthly benefit on a QUEST card for groceries. Most households qualify with gross monthly income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($2,610 for one person, $3,526 for two). Older adults (60+) and people with disabilities can deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses over $35 a month, which often raises the benefit. No asset test for most households. Apply at access.wi.gov or through the county ADRC.

$300–$3,500/yr

Wisconsin Medicaid for the Elderly, Blind or Disabled (EBD) covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term care supports for people 65 or older, blind, or disabled with limited income and assets. For 2026 the SSI-related categorically needy limits are $1,086.16 a month income ($1,636.26 for a couple) with assets of $2,000 ($3,000 couple); higher-income applicants may still qualify through a deductible (spenddown) or other EBD pathways. Apply at access.wi.gov, by phone, or through the county ADRC.

$2,000–$15,000/yr

Wisconsin's Board on Aging and Long Term Care runs free, confidential insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries — comparing Medigap (supplement) policies, Medicare Advantage, and long-term-care insurance at 1-800-242-1060, with a separate Part D prescription-plan line at 1-855-677-2783. Counselors are neutral: they sell nothing. Counseling is for Medicare beneficiaries of any age. This is Wisconsin's version of the State Health Insurance assistance Program (SHIP).

SeniorCare is Wisconsin's prescription drug assistance program for residents 65 and older. Enrollment costs $30 a year. With annual income at or below 160% of the federal poverty level ($25,536 single / $34,624 couple for 2026) there is no deductible — just $5 generic / $15 brand copays; income up to 200% ($31,920 / $43,280) adds a deductible, and higher incomes can still join with a spenddown. SeniorCare works with or instead of Medicare Part D. Call 1-800-657-2038 or apply by mail.

$300–$3,000/yr

Uninsured and underinsured residents of Dane County can apply for financial assistance (charity care) at UW Health University Hospital for emergency and medically necessary care. UW Health provides 100% free care at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and sliding discounts to 600%. Discounts are based on household size and income compared with the Federal Poverty Level.

Wisconsin adds a monthly state supplement to federal SSI payments for residents who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled with little income and assets of $2,000 or less ($3,000 for a couple). The SSI-E (Exceptional Expense) supplement pays more to SSI members who need at least 40 hours a month of help at home — certified by the county or tribal agency. SSI members in Wisconsin also get Medicaid automatically. Apply for SSI through Social Security (1-800-772-1213); ask the county income maintenance agency about SSI-E certification.

$1,000–$3,000/yr

Family Care and IRIS are Wisconsin's Medicaid long-term care programs. They pay for help at home — personal care, chores, home-delivered meals, equipment, respite — so frail seniors and adults with disabilities can stay out of nursing homes. IRIS is the self-directed option (you manage your own budget and workers). Eligibility takes both a functional screen (nursing-home level of care) and Medicaid financial rules. Enrollment starts at the county Aging & Disability Resource Center.

$5,000–$50,000/yr

Wisconsin's Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. For 2026: QMB (monthly income up to $1,330 single / $1,803.33 couple) pays Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and copays; SLMB and SLMB+ (income to $1,596 / $2,164 and above) pay the Part B premium. Assets must be at or below $9,950 single / $14,910 couple. Enrolling also brings Extra Help with prescription costs. Apply at access.wi.gov or through the county ADRC.

$2,000–$8,000/yr

Wisconsin's elderly nutrition program serves adults 60 and older (and their spouses) through senior dining sites and home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) in every county. There is no income test — meals are provided on a voluntary-donation basis. Home delivery is for those who cannot get out; the county aging unit or ADRC signs people up.

$500–$2,500/yr

The Homestead Credit is a refundable state tax credit that offsets property taxes or rent for lower-income Wisconsin residents — homeowners AND renters qualify. Household income must be under $24,680 for the year, and you must have lived in Wisconsin all year and be 18 or older. The credit is claimed with Schedule H on the state income tax return (up to about $1,168). Free filing help is available through county tax sites and the ADRC.

$100–$1,168/yr

WHEDA's Property Tax Deferral Loan Program lets homeowners 65 and older (co-owner 60+) with limited income defer property taxes: WHEDA pays the tax bill as a low-interest loan repaid when the home is sold or transferred. Applications are accepted January 1 through June 30 each year. Call WHEDA at 1-800-755-7835 for the current income limit and application.

$500–$4,000/yr

Every Wisconsin county, including Dane County, receives state aid under Wis. Stat. §85.21 to run specialized transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities — typically door-to-door van or volunteer-driver rides to medical appointments, nutrition sites, and shopping. Services and fares vary by county; the ADRC connects riders with the county's program. Call 608-240-7400 to schedule or learn what is available.

$150–$1,500/yr

This refundable credit pays back 100% of the property taxes on the primary residence (up to one acre) for eligible Wisconsin veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (including individual unemployability) and for eligible unremarried surviving spouses receiving DIC. There is no income limit. First get a certification of eligibility from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, then claim the credit on the state income tax return.

$1,000–$6,000/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.

Pima Council on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Pima County, including Tucson and Green Valley. The Help Line connects older adults and caregivers to home-delivered and congregate meals, in-home and personal care, caregiver support, no-cost Medicare counseling, and transportation and housing information. Adults age 60 and over, and adults with disabilities, can call 520-790-7262 to ask what help is available.

$1,500–$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 Pima County Community Assistance Division delivers low-income energy assistance (LIHEAP) for Pima County, working with local LIHEAP affiliate agencies to help pay electric and gas bills and prevent shutoffs. Emergency bill-payment help of up to $1,000 per year may be available to income-eligible households facing a crisis. Call 520-724-2667 to apply, or dial 2-1-1 for referrals. The statewide DES energy page is another entry point.

$200–$1,000/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.

Banner – University Medical Center Tucson offers Basic and Enhanced Financial Assistance for uninsured, underinsured, and medically indigent patients. Charity care is based on household income and family size. A financial counselor can help with the application and supporting documents. Other Pima County hospitals with their own financial-assistance programs include Tucson Medical Center (tmcaz.com) and Carondelet / Northwest hospitals under CommonSpirit-Dignity Health (dignityhealth.org).

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

Sun Tran runs fixed-route buses across the Tucson metro area, with Sun Van providing curb-to-curb paratransit for riders who cannot use fixed-route buses because of a disability. Sun Van riders must be certified by the City of Tucson ADA Paratransit Eligibility Office (photo ID, doctor's documentation of disability, and proof of Pima County address). Sun Shuttle serves outlying communities such as Green Valley. Call 520-791-5409 to start Sun Van certification.

$200–$1,200/yr