It is estimated that there are nearly 5 million African American seniors in the country. Many of them may struggle to make ends meet each month. The cost of goods and services has been rising, but most seniors live on fixed incomes, so it becomes a challenge to get everything paid. The good news is that there are assistance programs for African American seniors and they will help ensure their basic needs are being met.
Many seniors who have fixed incomes struggle to get all of their bills paid, especially if there are increases in the costs. Rather than not have the things they need, it is important that they turn to helpful programs to get the assistance they need. The programs are in place to do just that and exist to help ensure that people’s basic needs are being met.
The programs available to African American seniors are the same as those open to everyone who meets the qualifications for each program. This typically includes meeting low-income requirements and being a citizen or legal non-citizen. The programs, which are largely funded by the federal and state governments, will provide help with food, shelter, medical expenses, and more.
Assistance Programs for African American Seniors
The programs listed below are some of the most popular and most well-funded ones that people turn to for assistance. Apply for as many of the programs as you feel qualified for because there are no limits when it comes to applying for or receiving help from them. Some programs may have time limits on how long you can get help through them, while others will provide ongoing assistance without time limits.
Medicare – African American seniors who need help paying for their medical bills can apply for this program. Funded by the federal government, this program helps pay for most medical bills, including when seniors go to the hospital, doctor, or specialist or if they need prescription drugs. To qualify for this program, you have to be over 65 and a citizen or legal non-citizen. There are no income requirements to be approved, as it is open to all seniors in the country. There are also no time limits for how long someone can get help through this program. To get more information and apply for Medicaid, click here.
211 – Seniors needing financial assistance programs in their area can call this number and get referrals to the types of programs that they need. This is free referral program is provided by the United Way organization and is open to everyone in the country. You tell them what type of assistance you need help with and they will help you find local programs that they can refer you to. To get more information about the 211 program, click here.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – This is an agency that is part of the federal government. They are the largest provider of housing assistance in the country. HUD can help with housing needs by helping people locate affordable housing options, providing people with government-owned units to live in, helping to pay rent and avoid foreclosure, and helping to pay for housing repairs. They also provide free weatherization services, which will help to reduce monthly energy bills by making the home more energy efficient. To qualify, you have to be a citizen or legal non-citizen and have a low income. Each state has a HUD office that you can contact to get more information and apply for assistance. To find your state’s office, click here.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – In many states, heating and cooling are essential. There are some seniors who struggle to keep their energy bills paid. This program will help pay for the energy bills for those who qualify. To qualify, you have to be the person who is responsible for paying the bill and have a low income. You will have to re-apply for this assistance each year because it is run off a block grant from the federal government. The government provides the state with a lump sum of money each year to help pay energy bills, and when it is gone, the state can’t help anyone else until they get the next block grant. To get more information and apply for bill payment assistance, click here.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Those who need help purchasing food can apply for this program, which is federally funded and open to everyone in the country who has a low income. Those who are approved will get a plastic card that the government will electronically add funds to each month. The card can then be used to pay for groceries at the store and some farmer’s markets. This program used to be called food stamps, and many people still refer to it as that. The amount that you receive each month is calculated based on how many dependents are in the home. There is no limit on how long you can get help through this program as long as you continue to meet the requirements. To get more information and apply for SNAP, click here.
Catholic Charities – This organization provides assistance programs for African Americans and others around the country. They have many locations and each of them they offer such services as free food, shelter, clothing, bill payment assistance, and more. They don’t usually have strict requirements in order to get assistance. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
Additional Resources
Another great resource for assistance programs is found in most communities through the churches. There are churches all around the country, and they are a great place to turn for help. Most of them actively try to help people in the community who need it, including providing them with food, shelter, clothing, school supplies, bill payment assistance, and more. You do not have to be a member of the church in order to get help through their programs. Contact the churches in your area to see what type of assistance programs they offer.
