Orange County, California vs Maricopa County, Arizona

ADSA pays $50 a month to help with food, grooming and health care for a guide, signal or service dog. You qualify if you use an assistance dog for your disability and you get SSI/SSP, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Fill out form ADSA1 (ADSA1B if your benefit is SSDI) and mail it to CDSS at 744 P Street, MS 9-11-91, Sacramento, CA 95814. Renew each year with form ADSA1A. Questions: 916-657-2628 or ADSAUser@dss.ca.gov.

Estimated cash: about $600 a year

CAPI is a 100% state-funded cash benefit that mirrors SSI for aged, blind, or disabled non-citizens who would qualify for federal SSI but are barred from it solely because of their immigration status. The monthly payment is set just below the combined SSI/SSP standard (typically about $10 less for an individual), so a CAPI recipient receives roughly the same monthly cash as a citizen on SSI. It is administered by county welfare departments on behalf of the California Department of Social Services. CAPI exists specifically to close the gap left when federal welfare reform restricted SSI for many lawfully present immigrants — a large share of California's low-income immigrant seniors are eligible but never apply because they assume immigration status disqualifies them from everything. Apply through your county social services office — CDSS directs CAPI applicants to their county rather than a statewide phone line.

Estimated cash: $11,500–$17,300 a year

The Assisted Living Waiver pays the care portion of a stay at a participating Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) or publicly subsidized senior housing for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who would otherwise need nursing home placement. The waiver covers personal care, assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, social services, and care coordination at the facility; the participant pays only the residency cost (room and board), which for SSI-eligible seniors is capped at the SSI/SSP non-medical out-of-home care rate (roughly $1,300 per month). ALW operates in 15 California counties and has limited slots; new applicants typically join a waiting list. The waiver is one of the few Medi-Cal pathways that pays for assisted living rather than only home-based care. Questions go to the DHCS ALW unit by email at ALWP.IR@dhcs.ca.gov, or apply through one of the ALW Care Coordination Agencies listed on the DHCS page.

Estimated service value: $30,000–$60,000 a year

CBAS is a Medi-Cal benefit that pays for adult day health centers — outpatient day programs that combine nursing, social work, therapy (physical, occupational, speech), personal care, meals, and transportation in a single facility, typically for two to five days per week. CBAS is designed for adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions who would otherwise be at risk of nursing facility placement. The program lets seniors stay at home overnight while receiving daily medical and social support, and provides essential respite for family caregivers. CBAS is delivered through Medi-Cal managed care plans (or fee-for-service for some populations) at over 200 licensed centers across California.

Estimated service value: $15,000–$30,000 a year

IHSS pays for a caregiver to come to the home and help an aged, blind, or disabled person with personal care, housework, meal preparation, shopping, and other daily activities — keeping people out of nursing facilities. Hours are assessed by a county social worker based on individual need (up to 283 hours per month for severely impaired participants). The caregiver can often be a family member, including an adult child or spouse. IHSS requires Medi-Cal eligibility as a prerequisite.

Estimated service value: $12,000–$50,000 a year

The Dignity at Home Fall Prevention Program helps older adults and people with disabilities avoid falls and stay safely in their own homes. Through local Area Agencies on Aging it provides in-home safety assessments, home modifications, fall-prevention education, and injury-prevention equipment. It is income-limited (adjusted household income at or below 80% of the area median income, which varies by county) and is for people who have fallen, are at risk of falling, or are at risk of being placed in a facility. Availability and the exact local provider vary by county.

Property Tax Postponement (PTP) lets qualifying senior, blind, or disabled homeowners defer their property taxes — the state pays the county on the homeowner's behalf, and the deferred amount becomes a lien on the property repaid when the home is sold, transferred, refinanced, or the owner moves out. It's one of California's most under-claimed senior benefits despite deferring thousands of dollars in property taxes each year. Applications for the 2026-27 fiscal year are accepted October 1, 2026 through February 10, 2027 on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted; the household income limit is $57,002.

Estimated bill savings: $3,000–$10,000 a year

General Relief (GR) is Orange County's last-resort cash aid for an indigent adult with no dependent children who is ineligible for federal or state cash aid. It is a repayable loan — the County recovers it from any later Supplemental Security Income (SSI) retroactive award — so for a low-income senior it is mainly a bridge while an SSI or CAPI claim is pending. You must be an Orange County resident and a U.S. citizen or documented non-citizen, and meet income and property limits.

Free digital devices, internet service plans, and training for older adults and adults with disabilities, so they can connect safely online, reach healthcare providers, and build digital skills. Part of CDA's Digital Inclusion effort alongside the Digital Connections Program. Call 1-800-510-2020 to reach your local Area Agency on Aging and ask about device and connectivity programs.

California State Parks issues a free lifetime pass to qualifying California veterans. The Distinguished Veteran Pass covers the basic facilities in participating state parks — day-use parking, camping, and boating — at no charge. It is available to honorably discharged California residents who have a combined VA service-connected disability rating of 50% or more with wartime service, were a prisoner of war, or received the Medal of Honor. Apply once with form DPR-619, a California ID, the DD-214, and a VA letter dated within the past year showing the rating.

California issues Disabled Veteran license plates that waive all vehicle registration and license fees on one vehicle, for veterans with a qualifying permanent service-connected disability. Qualifying conditions include a 100% VA disability rating due to a diagnosed disease or disorder that substantially impairs mobility, inability to move without an assistive device, loss of use of one or more limbs, or permanent blindness. DV plates also allow parking in disabled-person spaces, at blue curbs, and at metered spaces at no charge. Apply at any DMV office with the certification form REG 256V; there is no application fee.

CARE is a CPUC-regulated discount on energy bills for income-qualified California households. Enrollees of the major investor-owned utilities (PG&E, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, SoCalGas) receive a 30–35% discount on their electric bill and a 20% discount on their natural gas bill. Smaller utilities offer a 20% discount on both. Eligibility is met through either an income test (household income at or below the CPUC-published limit, which varies by household size) or a program test (current participation in Medi-Cal, CalFresh/SNAP, SSI, LIHEAP, WIC, National School Lunch Program, TANF/CalWORKs, Tribal TANF, BIA General Assistance, Head Start (Tribal), or Healthy Families A&B). Either path qualifies the household — both don't have to be met.

Estimated bill savings: $300–$700 a year

FERA is an 18% discount on electric bills for households whose income is a little too high for the CARE discount. It is offered by PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. For June 2026 to May 2027, a household of one or two people qualifies with income from $43,281 up to $54,100 (250% of the federal poverty level). FERA customers also pay a lower monthly base charge — about $12 a month instead of $24.15. Call your electric utility to apply: PG&E 1-866-743-2273, Southern California Edison 1-866-675-6623, or SDG&E 1-800-411-7343.

Estimated bill savings: about $144 a year

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.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$20,000 a year

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.

Estimated service value: about $0 a year

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.

Estimated bill savings: $0–$502 a year

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.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$1,500 a year