New Mexico has a lower cost of living than most other states in the country. It also tends to one of the state that has the highest percentage of seniors living there. No matter how good the cost of living may be in the state, there will still be people who struggle financially. This is because most seniors live on a fixed income, and they find it hard to keep up with the rising costs of things. It is important to know about programs that offer financial assistance for seniors in New Mexico.
The federal and state government both have programs in place to help people financially, so that they don’t become homeless or go hungry. Together, the two levels of government help ensure that people have their basic needs taken care of. The programs will help provide financial assistance for everything from food to paying utilities and ensuring one’s housing is paid.
There is additional good news when it comes to getting financial assistance for seniors in New Mexico. The assistance is not considered a loan, soy you will not have to pay it back. Rather, financial aid like this is given to people in the community as a gift to help them when they are struggling. You can apply for all those that you feel make a good fit, because there is no limit on how many programs you can get assistance from.
Programs Offering Financial Assistance
Food Assistance Programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This program used to be called food stamps and is still what many people call it today, even though the official name has been changed to SNAP. The program is provided by the federal government and is available to everyone who has a low income and is a citizen or legal non-citizen. Unlike some government assistance programs, there is no limit on how long you can get help through this program. As long as you meet the requirements you can keeping getting the assistance. Once approved, this program will provide you with a way to help pay for your groceries each month. They will give you a debit-style card that can be used as the payment source at stores and some farmers markets. The amount of your monthly benefit is determined by how many dependents are in the home. To get more information and apply, click here.
Salvation Army – Those who live near a Salvation Army location can turn to them for help with hot meals, boxes of food, clothing, and additional assistance programs. They are a faith-based organization that has locations around the country. They do not usually have strict income requirements or a verification process in order to receive the free food. They will open their soup kitchen and pantry to anyone in the community who needs it. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
New Mexico Association of Food Banks – This organization can help you find a food bank or pantry in your local area. These are places where you can go to get free food and sometimes hot meals. Some food banks allow you to pull up and have the items loaded into your car, while others are set up like a store and allow you to shop for what you need. There are also some that offer senior food delivery services. To find a food bank or pantry location near you, click here.
Rent Assistance Programs
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – This federal agency has several programs in place to help seniors and others with financial assistance for housing. They will help with rent assistance, paying for home repairs, locating affordable housing options, and more. They also offer a free weatherization program that will help make the home more energy efficient, which will reduce monthly heating and cooling bills. To qualify for assistance through HUD, you have to have a low income and be a citizen or legal non-citizen. To get more information and apply for assistance, click here.
Move In Assistance and Eviction Prevention (MIAEP) – This program is provided by the state government and focuses on helping to provide the financial assistance for people to move into a place and avoid evictions. They will also help with damage deposits, utility deposits, and approved costs that are related to housing. You can get a $1,000 grant benefit every three years. To get more information and apply, click here.
Utility Bills Assistance Programs
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Whether you need help paying your energy bill or have fallen behind and have disconnect notice, this program may be able to help. This is a federally funded program that helps people who have a low income to pay for their energy bills. To get more information about the program and apply for financial assistance, click here.
211 – By calling this number you can get referred to programs in your area that will help pay for your utilities and other expenses. It is a free referral program that is run by the United Way organization. To get more information about the 211 program, click here.
Medical Bills Assistance Programs
Medicaid – Seniors under the age of 65 can get help paying for their medical bills through this federally funded program. To qualify for the program, you have to have a low income and be a legal resident. Those who are approved will get assistance paying for most types of medical bills. To get more information and apply for the program, click here.
Medicare – Seniors over the age of 65 who are citizens or legal non-citizens are eligible for Medicare in the state of New Mexico and around the country. The program does not have any income requirements to qualify and there are no time limits for how long you can use it. The program will help pay for the medical bills for most types of healthcare, including doctors, hospitals and prescription drugs. To get more information and sign up, click here.
