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2026 Senior Benefits Checklist
Cook County, Illinois

48 programs17 categoriesEvery one linked to its official sourceLast verified · July 30, 2026

Free · No Social Security number · No credit card · Not a government agency

Start here — the free 5-minute benefits check

  1. 1Answer a few plain-English questions (age, ZIP, rough income).
  2. 2See which of these programs fit — with a dollar estimate for each.
  3. 3Call or apply to your top match, using this sheet's phone numbers.

discoverseniorbenefits.com/scan?src=checklist-cook

Caregiver Support

1 program

  • Illinois Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)

    $500–$5,000/yr

    1-800-252-8966ilaging.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

Cash Assistance

1 program

  • Illinois Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Cash Assistance

    $600–$6,000/yr

    1-800-843-6154www.dhs.illinois.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

Emergency Aid

3 programs

  • Cook County Township General Assistance + Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination (Cook County)

    $200–$3,000/yr

    211www.illinoislegalaid.orgLast verified · June 14, 2026

  • Illinois LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance + PIPP

    $250–$1,500/yr

    877-411-9276dceo.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Cook County LIHEAP — CEDA Energy Assistance (Cook County)

    $250–$1,500/yr

    855-499-2332dceo.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

Employment

1 program

  • Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

    $15,000–$17,000/yr

    1-877-872-5627www.dol.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

Food Assistance

3 programs

  • Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)

    $1,500–$4,000/yr

    1-800-677-1116acl.govLast verified · May 13, 2026

  • Congregate Meals at Senior Centers

    $1,000–$2,500/yr

    1-800-677-1116acl.govLast verified · May 13, 2026

  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for Seniors

    $280–$2,400/yr

    1-800-221-5689www.fns.usda.govLast verified · June 21, 2026

Healthcare

3 programs

  • Cook County Health — CareLink Financial Assistance + CountyCare (Cook County)

    $500–$40,000/yr

    312-864-6000cookcountyhealth.orgLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Illinois Medicaid — Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD)

    $4,000–$30,000/yr

    1-800-843-6154hfs.illinois.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

  • VA Health Care

    $5,000–$20,000/yr

    1-877-222-8387www.va.govLast verified · July 19, 2026

Home Care

2 programs

  • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

    $30,000–$80,000/yr

    hfs.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) — In-Home Services for Seniors 60+

    $3,000–$25,000/yr

    1-800-252-8966ilaging.illinois.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

Housing

2 programs

  • Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)

    $8,000–$20,000/yr

    1-800-955-2232www.hud.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

  • HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

    $5,000–$15,000/yr

    1-800-955-2232www.hud.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

Income Support

1 program

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    $11,928–$17,892/yr

    1-800-772-1213www.ssa.govLast verified · June 15, 2026

Long Term Care

2 programs

  • PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

    $6,000–$40,000/yr

    1-800-633-4227www.medicaid.govLast verified · June 21, 2026

  • Illinois Veterans' Homes (Long-Term Care)

    veterans.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

Medicare Savings

3 programs

  • Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)

    $4,000–$5,300/yr

    1-800-772-1213www.ssa.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

  • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

    $2,435–$3,500/yr

    1-800-MEDICAREwww.medicare.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

  • Qualifying Individual (QI)

    $2,400–$2,435/yr

    1-800-MEDICAREwww.medicare.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

Nutrition

2 programs

  • Cook County Area Agencies on Aging — Chicago DFSS + AgeOptions (Cook County)

    $1,500–$6,000/yr

    1-800-252-8966www.ageoptions.orgLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Illinois Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

    $50–$80/yr

    1-800-252-8966ilaging.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

Supportive Services

3 programs

  • National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)

    $1,000–$5,000/yr

    1-800-677-1116acl.govLast verified · May 16, 2026

  • Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)

    $500–$3,000/yr

    1-800-677-1116acl.govLast verified · June 15, 2026

  • Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

    1-800-677-1116acl.govLast verified · June 15, 2026

Tax Relief

3 programs

  • Illinois 70%+ Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption (Property Tax Exempt up to $250,000 EAV)

    $3,000–$9,000/yr

    tax.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Illinois Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze + Homestead Exemption (Property Tax)

    $150–$4,000/yr

    1-800-732-8866tax.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)

    $0–$1,125/yr

    1-800-829-1040www.irs.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

Transportation

2 programs

  • RTA Ride Free + Reduced Fare — CTA / Pace / Metra (Cook County)

    $400–$2,500/yr

    312-913-3110www.rtachicago.orgLast verified · July 27, 2026

  • Illinois Benefit Access Program — Free RTA Transit + License Plate Discount

    $300–$2,000/yr

    1-800-252-8966ilaging.illinois.govLast verified · July 27, 2026

Utility Assistance

2 programs

  • Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

    $3,000–$8,000/yr

    www.energy.govLast verified · July 30, 2026

  • Federal Lifeline

    $111–$411/yr

    1-800-234-9473www.fcc.govLast verified · June 14, 2026

Veteran Benefits

1 program

  • VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)

    $12,000–$34,488/yr

    1-800-827-1000www.va.govLast verified · July 19, 2026

Prepare & get help

Documents to gather before applying

  • Photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
  • Social Security card
  • Medicare card (if enrolled)
  • Proof of income (award letter, pay stubs, pension statement)
  • Recent bank statements
  • Proof of residency (utility bill or lease)
  • List of current medications
  • Insurance cards

Local starting point

City of Chicago DFSS Senior Services (Chicago) + AgeOptions (suburban Cook County)

1-800-252-8966

Your local Area Agency on Aging can walk through any program on this list by phone.

48 programs covering Cook County are checked at discoverseniorbenefits.com · program data last verified July 30, 2026. Programs and eligibility rules change — the agency makes the final decision. Not legal or financial advice. Generated July 30, 2026.

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