Senior benefits in Queens County, New York
Seniors living in Queens County, New York have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, housing costs, food, energy bills, and more. NYC Aging — the designated Area Agency on Aging for all five boroughs — is a strong local starting point for Queens residents seeking guidance on services like Older Adult Centers and Title III supports. Queens seniors may also qualify for the MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard and Access-A-Ride Paratransit for affordable transportation, NYC HRA HEAP Energy Assistance to help with home energy costs, and NYC Health + Hospitals HHC Options Financial Assistance for medical bills. In times of hardship, the Queens Borough Emergency Aid framework coordinates help through NYC HRA, NYC Aging, and local community organizations. State programs such as EPIC, Enhanced STAR, Managed Long-Term Care, and New York Medicare Savings Programs may also apply, alongside dozens of federal programs. Each listing on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified. The administering agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
5
Local programs
15
New York programs
25
Federal programs
15
Categories
Local starting point
New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA, branded 'NYC Aging') — designated Area Agency on Aging for all 5 NYC boroughs under the Older Americans Act Title III; the largest urban AAA in the United States
212-244-6469
See which of these Queens County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Queens County benefits checklist — free to hand out.
When benefit rules change, it’s tracked here
Income limits, new requirements, how to apply — see what’s changed across senior benefit programs, from the official source in plain English.
Programs run in Queens County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Queens County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
NYC HRA — HEAP Energy Assistance (Queens)
CountyNYC 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 Borough Emergency Aid — NYC HRA + DFTA + Faith-Based Coordination
CountyQueens (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
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
NYC Health + Hospitals — HHC Options Financial Assistance (Queens)
CountyNYC 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
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,200–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA / NYC Aging) — Older Adult Centers + Title III (Queens)
CountyNYC 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
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $500–$3,500 a year to an eligible household.
MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard / OMNY + Access-A-Ride Paratransit (Queens)
CountyMTA 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
New York and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Queens County and across the rest of New York. Full details are on the New York benefits page.
Emergency Aid
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- EPIC — Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance CoverageState$200–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- New York Medicaid for Aged, Blind, or Disabled (Non-MAGI Medicaid)State$4,000–$50,000/yrOfficial source →
- New York Medicare Savings Programs (QMB / SLMB / QI)State$2,098–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)State$30,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- Enhanced STAR — Senior School Property Tax ExemptionState$200–$1,500/yrOfficial source →
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrOfficial source →
- New York State Blind Annuity (Cash Payment for Blind Wartime Veterans)State$1,695–$1,696/yrOfficial source →
Long Term Care
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyFederal$6,000–$40,000/yrOfficial source →
- New York Managed Long Term Care (MLTC)State$20,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
- New York State Veterans' Homes (Long-Term Care)StateOfficial source →
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
- New York Disabled Veteran Reduced-Fee Hunting, Fishing & Trapping Licenses ($5)StateOfficial source →
- New York State Veterans Benefits Advisors (Free VA Claims Help)StateOfficial source →
- New York State Veterans Cemetery — Finger Lakes (Burial Benefits)StateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrOfficial source →
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.