Senior benefits in Union County, Ohio

Ohio HEAP helps low-income households pay heating bills (Winter Heating Assistance Program, Nov-March + Summer Cooling Crisis Program). Income limit: 175% FPL (~$26,355 single / ~$35,962 couple, 2026). Benefits are credited directly to the utility account — amounts vary based on heating source, household income, and household size (typically $200-$1,200). Apply via Ohio Benefits (benefits.ohio.gov), by calling 1-800-282-0880, or at the local Community Action Agency. Winter Crisis Program (emergency heat shutoff prevention) is a separate, more generous tier — see oh.state.winter_crisis.

$200–$1,500/yr

PIPP Plus is Ohio's distinctive ongoing utility payment program for low-income households. Eligible households pay 6% of monthly household income for natural gas and 6% for electricity (or 10% total for electric heat). The remainder is paid by the program. Income limit: 175% FPL (~$26,355 single). Must apply EVERY YEAR to maintain enrollment. ONGOING year-round assistance — distinctive vs HEAP's seasonal model. Distinctive — PIPP is one of the most generous ongoing utility programs in the US. Apply via Ohio Benefits or at local Community Action Agency. Phone: 1-800-282-0880.

$500–$3,000/yr

Ohio Winter Crisis Program (Nov 1 - March 31) provides emergency assistance to prevent heat shutoff or restore disconnected heat for low-income households. Income limit: 175% FPL (~$26,355 single). Maximum benefit varies by year (recently up to $750 per household). Must have an active heat shutoff notice or be already disconnected. Apply by appointment at the local Community Action Agency. Apply via Ohio Benefits or call 1-800-282-0880.

$175–$750/yr

Union County senior services are funded by a dedicated Senior Services Sales Tax Levy: UCATS transportation for residents 60+, senior programming, and case coordination. Layered referrals: Union County Job and Family Services (emergency assistance, Medicaid, UCATS medical trips for Medicaid recipients); Bridges Community Action Partnership (HEAP/PIPP+); COAAA (614-645-7250); Memorial Health FAP + HCAP; Ohio 2-1-1.

$200–$3,000/yr

Ohio HEAP for Union County residents: Bridges Community Action Partnership (formerly Community Action Organization of Delaware, Madison and Union Counties) is the HEAP/PIPP+/Winter Crisis administering agency — a 6-COUNTY agency serving Champaign, Delaware, Logan, Madison, Shelby, and Union counties. Income limit: 175% FPL (~$26,355 single). Apply via energyhelp.ohio.gov, by calling 1-800-282-0880, or at the local administering agency. PIPP+ (ongoing 6%-of-income utility plan) + Winter Crisis Program (Nov-March emergency tier) layer on top.

$200–$1,500/yr

SCSEP places low-income job seekers age 55 and older into paid part-time community service assignments at nonprofits and public agencies — schools, libraries, food pantries, senior centers, parks departments, and similar host sites. Participants typically work 20 hours per week and earn at least the federal, state, or local minimum wage (in California, $16.50/hour in 2026, which works out to roughly $17,000 per year before taxes). The placement is paired with skills training, computer literacy, resume help, and one-on-one coaching aimed at moving the participant into unsubsidized employment within the broader job market. SCSEP is administered nationally by the Department of Labor and locally by AARP Foundation, the National Council on Aging, Goodwill, the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, and state agencies; coverage exists in every California county though slot availability and the host-site mix vary by grantee.

$15,000–$17,000/yr

Funded under Older Americans Act Title III-C1 and run locally by Area Agencies on Aging, the Congregate Nutrition Program serves hot meals to seniors age 60 and older at senior centers, community centers, places of worship, and similar gathering sites. Most sites serve lunch on weekdays; some serve dinner or weekend meals as well. There is no income test. A voluntary contribution (typically $2–$4 per meal) is suggested but never required, and no senior is turned away for inability or unwillingness to contribute. Beyond the meal itself, sites typically offer health screenings, nutrition counseling, social activities, transportation assistance, and a built-in social network that reduces the isolation that contributes to depression and accelerated cognitive decline in older adults.

$1,000–$2,500/yr

Federally authorized under the Older Americans Act and locally operated by Area Agencies on Aging and Meals on Wheels affiliates, the Home-Delivered Meals Program brings hot or frozen meals — typically five to seven per week — to seniors age 60 and older who are homebound or have difficulty preparing meals safely on their own. There is no income test; the program is open to all qualifying seniors regardless of wealth. A voluntary contribution is suggested (a few dollars per meal) but never required, and no senior is turned away for inability or unwillingness to pay. Beyond the meals themselves, the daily home visit functions as a wellness check — drivers are trained to notice changes in health, mood, or living conditions and to alert local care coordinators when something looks wrong.

$1,500–$4,000/yr

SFMNP gives low-income seniors annual vouchers — roughly $40 per eligible person in California in 2026 — to buy fresh, unprepared, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at participating farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. The federal program is funded by USDA and distributed locally by the California Department of Food and Agriculture through county and nonprofit partners (food banks, area agencies on aging, senior centers). Vouchers are typically distributed once per year between May and October. SFMNP is small in dollar value relative to other senior benefits but pairs well with CalFresh because it lets recipients buy farmers'-market produce that traditional grocery-store benefits don't always cover well.

$35–$50/yr

CHAMPVA is the VA's health-care program for spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children of veterans who are rated 100% permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, who died of a service-connected condition, or who died on active duty. CHAMPVA shares the cost of covered services — inpatient and outpatient care, prescriptions, durable medical equipment, mental health, and skilled nursing care — typically paying 75% of the VA-allowable amount after a small annual deductible. Once a beneficiary becomes Medicare-eligible at 65, CHAMPVA functions as a secondary payer that picks up most of what Medicare doesn't cover, including Part B coinsurance and many Part D-equivalent prescriptions. CHAMPVA is administered out of the VA Health Administration Center in Denver and is separate from TRICARE; a person eligible for TRICARE cannot use CHAMPVA.

$3,000–$15,000/yr

VA Health Care covers primary care, specialty care, mental health, hospital stays, prescriptions, and preventive services at the nationwide network of VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics. Most veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge are eligible to enroll. After enrollment the VA assigns the veteran a Priority Group (1 through 8) based on service-connected disability rating, special circumstances (former POW, Purple Heart, catastrophic disability), and income relative to the geographic-means-test threshold. Priority Groups 1 through 5 receive most care at no cost; higher priority groups pay copays that are still well below typical Medicare and private-insurance cost-sharing. VA Health Care does not replace Medicare for most senior veterans — most enroll in both — but it can substantially reduce out-of-pocket costs for care received at VA facilities, especially prescriptions ($0–$11 per fill versus typical Medicare Part D copays).

$5,000–$20,000/yr

Ohio's NFCSP supports informal caregivers caring for adults age 60+ (or any age if person has Alzheimer's-related disease). Services include: respite care (in-home, adult day, or short-term residential); supplemental services (consumable supplies, home modifications, assistive technology); caregiver counseling and support groups; caregiver training and education; information and referral. NO income test for most services — based on need. Apply through the local AAA. Distinctive — Ohio's NFCSP delivery infrastructure through 12 regional AAAs makes it one of the more accessible in the US.

$200–$5,000/yr

Ohio Medicaid Aged/Blind/Disabled covers Ohioans age 65+, blind, or disabled. Income limit (2026): ~$967/month single / ~$1,452/month couple (SSI-FBR linked — STRICT, similar to PA and TX). Resource limit: $2,000 single / $3,000 couple. Ohio also offers Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities (MBIWD). Apply via Ohio Benefits (benefits.ohio.gov), at the local County Department of Job and Family Services (CDJFS), or by calling 1-844-640-6446.

$4,000–$30,000/yr

Ohio Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) pay Medicare Part B premiums and (for QMB) cost-sharing. Ohio uses standard federal limits: QMB ≤100% FPL (~$1,304/mo single), SLMB 100-120% FPL, QI 120-135% FPL. Ohio DID NOT eliminate the resource test like New York and Connecticut did in 2023 — federal asset limits still apply (~$9,660 single / ~$14,470 couple, 2026). Apply via Ohio Benefits (benefits.ohio.gov) or at the local CDJFS.

$2,000–$5,000/yr

OSHIIP provides free, confidential, unbiased Medicare counseling to Ohio residents. Trained volunteers help with: Medicare Part A/B/C/D plan selection; Medicare Savings Programs enrollment; appeals; billing disputes; long-term care insurance questions. Statewide via 12 AAA partner offices + local county sponsors. Call 1-800-686-1578 to find local OSHIIP counselor.

PASSPORT is Ohio's marquee Medicaid HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) Waiver for age 60+ at nursing-home level of care. One of the most-studied Medicaid HCBS waivers in the US — Ohio's PASSPORT pioneered the model of single-entry case management through Area Agencies on Aging. Services include personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day services, transportation, home modifications, emergency response systems, and respite. Must qualify for Medicaid (income ~$967/mo single, $2,000 resource limit) PLUS need nursing-home level of care. Apply through the local AAA (Area Agency on Aging) — see oda.gov for AAA locator.

$8,000–$60,000/yr

Union County hospital safety net: Union = Memorial Health (Marysville, INDEPENDENT 99-bed) — small independent thriving in fast-growing Honda country. Ohio's Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) requires hospitals receiving HCAP funds (essentially all Ohio acute-care hospitals) to provide basic, medically necessary hospital-level services free of charge to Ohio residents at or below 100% FPL; each hospital's own Financial Assistance Program (typically sliding to 200-400% FPL) layers above HCAP. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.memorialohio.com/. Phone: 937-644-6115.

$500–$30,000/yr

The Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly called Section 8) helps very-low-income households rent housing in the private market. The household generally pays about 30% of its adjusted income toward rent and the voucher covers the rest, up to a local payment standard, so housing cost scales to income instead of market rent. Unlike Section 202, a voucher is not tied to one building — it can be used at any rental whose owner accepts it and that meets program rent and quality standards, and in California source-of-income discrimination law requires most landlords to consider voucher holders. Vouchers are administered by local Public Housing Agencies, each with its own waiting list; many California PHAs maintain senior or senior/disabled preference categories. The benefit is large in high-rent California markets, but voucher waiting lists are among the longest of any benefit — frequently 5 to 10+ years, and many are closed except during brief lottery openings.

$8,000–$20,000/yr

Section 202 funds nonprofit-owned apartment communities built specifically for low-income seniors age 62 and older, paired with on-site supportive services (a service coordinator, transportation, meal programs, light housekeeping referrals) designed to let residents age in place. Residents generally pay 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and HUD covers the rest, so the out-of-pocket housing cost scales down with income rather than tracking market rent. For a low-income senior in a high-rent California market this is one of the largest single dollar-value benefits available — but Section 202 properties are individually owned, have limited units, and almost always carry multi-year waiting lists, so it is best understood as something to get on the list for now rather than a benefit that starts quickly.

$5,000–$15,000/yr

SSI is a federal monthly cash benefit for people 65 and older (or blind / disabled at any age) with very limited income and resources. It's a separate program from Social Security retirement — you can qualify for SSI even if you never worked enough to get Social Security, and many people qualify for both. In California, SSI recipients also get the State Supplementary Payment (SSP) on top, which adds several thousand dollars a year to the federal benefit. SSI is also a gateway: it can automatically open the door to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Extra Help.

$11,604–$17,400/yr

Extra Help (also called the Part D Low-Income Subsidy or LIS) lowers your prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D. It can pay your Part D premium, cap copays at a few dollars per prescription, and eliminate the coverage gap. The Social Security Administration estimates Extra Help is worth about $5,300 a year for people who qualify. It's frequently bundled with QMB / SLMB / QI but you can apply independently.

$4,000–$5,300/yr

QI is the top income tier of the Medicare Savings Programs. Like SLMB, it pays the Medicare Part B premium (around $185/month, roughly $2,220/year) — but for households whose income is too high for SLMB. Eligibility falls between 120% and 135% of the federal poverty level. QI funding is a federal block grant awarded on a first-come, first-served basis each calendar year, and enrollment must be renewed every year. QI is mutually exclusive with full Medi-Cal — anyone already receiving Medi-Cal benefits is not eligible for QI but typically gets the Part B premium covered by Medi-Cal directly.

$2,100–$2,220/yr

QMB pays your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you qualify, you should not be billed for any Medicare-covered services. It's the most generous of the four Medicare Savings Programs and is widely under-enrolled — the federal government estimates millions of eligible Americans are not enrolled.

$1,800–$2,400/yr

SLMB pays your Medicare Part B premium (currently around $175/month, ~$2,100/year) if your income is too high for QMB but still below 120% of the federal poverty level. It's the middle tier of the Medicare Savings Programs and is widely under-enrolled — when income is just above the QMB cutoff, SLMB usually applies. Asset limits are the same as QMB.

$2,100–$2,220/yr

Ohio SFMNP provides $50 in produce vouchers (5 × $10 coupons) per program year to age 60+ low-income Ohioans, redeemable at participating farmers' markets, farm stands, and CSAs. Income limit: 185% FPL (~$27,861 single, 2026). Distribution through local AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) + senior centers — apply through your local AAA or check oda.gov. Limited supply (first-come, first-served) — apply early in the season (typically May).

$50/yr

Union County AAA = Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA). Services include: Title III Congregate + Home-Delivered Meals; OSHIIP (Medicare counseling); PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver enrollment + assessment; National Family Caregiver Support Program; Ohio Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; Long-Term Care Options Counseling. Apply by calling the AAA at 614-645-7250.

$1,500–$6,000/yr

Title III-E of the Older Americans Act funds support specifically for the family members and informal caregivers who look after an older adult — not the senior, the person caring for them. Through the local Area Agency on Aging, an unpaid family caregiver (an adult child, a spouse, or another relative) of a person 60 and older can access respite care that gives them a break, individual counseling and caregiver support groups, training on safe transfers, medication management and dementia care, information and assistance navigating other programs, and limited supplemental services like consumable supplies or minor home modifications. There is no income test for the caregiver. Caregiver burnout is one of the leading reasons a senior ends up institutionalized, so this program protects both the caregiver's health and the senior's ability to stay home.

$1,000–$5,000/yr

Title III-B of the Older Americans Act funds a broad menu of non-medical supportive services that help seniors age 60 and older stay independent in their own homes and communities. Through the local Area Agency on Aging, eligible seniors can access subsidized or free transportation to medical appointments and grocery stores, homemaker and chore help, personal care, friendly-visitor and telephone-reassurance programs, adult day care, home repair and modification (grab bars, ramps), legal assistance for non-criminal matters like benefits appeals and consumer fraud, and case management to coordinate all of it. There is no income test, though local agencies target services to those in greatest social and economic need and a voluntary contribution may be requested. The same Area Agency on Aging that runs senior meals administers these services, so one phone call opens the door to the whole package.

$500–$3,000/yr

The Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled is a nonrefundable federal income tax credit, claimed on IRS Schedule R, for taxpayers who are age 65 or older (or who are permanently and totally disabled) and have low income. The maximum credit is $1,125 for a single filer and up to $1,500 for a married couple, but the actual amount is reduced — often to zero — by any nontaxable Social Security benefits and by adjusted gross income above a low threshold. Because the income limits have not been updated since the 1980s, the credit most often produces a real dollar benefit for low-income seniors whose income comes from small pensions or wages rather than Social Security, and for people under 65 retired on permanent disability. It is one of the most under-claimed line items on the senior tax return, in part because the seniors it targets frequently are not required to file at all.

up to $1,125/yr

Ohio Homestead Exemption reduces taxable home value by $26,200 (2024 tax year) for homeowners age 65+ or permanently/totally disabled. Income test: Ohio Adjusted Gross Income ≤$38,600 (2024). Disabled veterans (100% service-connected) get a $52,400 exemption with NO income test. Apply to the COUNTY AUDITOR by December 31 (for the following tax year). One-time application — automatic renewal as long as you remain in the home and meet criteria. Combine with the 2.5% rollback that applies to owner-occupied homes statewide.

$200–$1,200/yr

UCATS (Union County Agency Transportation Service, 940 London Ave, Marysville) — county agency transporting residents to medical, personal, and work appointments. ALL Union County residents 60+ living independently are eligible; trips funded by the Union County Senior Services Sales Tax Levy and COAAA. 24-hour notice in-county, 72 hours out-of-county. Ohio counties operate independent transit systems — fare structure varies. Call 937-642-5100 to register and schedule; residents 60+ qualify via the Senior Services Levy.

$200–$2,000/yr

Federal Lifeline is a Universal Service Fund program that discounts a single phone or internet (or bundled) service line by $9.25 per month for low-income households — and by up to $34.25 per month for residents of qualifying Tribal lands. Eligibility has two paths: an income test (household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty level) and a program-based path (current participation in Medicaid/Medi-Cal, SNAP/CalFresh, SSI, federal public housing assistance, or the Veterans Pension or Survivors Pension Benefit). Either path qualifies the household — both don't have to be met. The federal Lifeline discount is separate from but designed to stack with California LifeLine, so most California seniors who qualify for one will qualify for the other.

$111–$411/yr

WAP funds free home energy upgrades for income-eligible households to reduce energy bills, improve comfort, and address health-and-safety hazards. After a free professional energy audit, local providers install whatever the audit identifies — typically attic and wall insulation, air-sealing, weatherstripping, duct sealing, water-heater wraps, LED lighting, smart thermostats, refrigerator replacement (for very old high-draw units), HVAC tune-ups or replacement, ventilation upgrades, and carbon-monoxide detector installation. Average per-home investment in California ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 depending on the home's condition. WAP is open to homeowners AND renters (rental units require landlord written consent). The program is one-time per home (typically), though homes can sometimes be re-weatherized after 15 years if a new audit identifies additional measures. WAP is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy with additional layered funding from HHS (LIHEAP-Wx) and state utility programs, all delivered by the same local providers.

$3,000–$8,000/yr

Aid & Attendance is a tax-free monthly benefit added on top of the basic VA pension for wartime veterans (or their surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating, or managing medications — or who are housebound, in a nursing facility, or have very limited eyesight. The benefit is widely under-claimed because many veterans assume their non-service-connected condition disqualifies them. Eligibility requires the veteran to have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a recognized wartime period, plus income and net worth below VA limits. VA uses a special income calculation that subtracts unreimbursed medical expenses from gross income before applying the limit — so the income test here is approximate.

$12,000–$34,488/yr