Life after retirement is great for seniors. Your aging loved one probably has a long list of things they want to do and see now that they’re not beholden to a daily job. However, they might begin missing the comfort of that consistent paycheck. Some may start to be a bit more frugal with their money, while others could have to rely on outside support for funds. Luckily, a number of organizations and government agencies provide financial resources for seniors in need.

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Explore the following options that can help seniors find extra cash or benefits that can support them through retirement.

1. USA.gov

A lot of people qualify for government benefits they never take advantage of because they just don’t know they’re there to begin with. USA.gov makes it easy to search and browse the types of assistance available from the government. The website includes categories like food assistance, affordable housing, social security, help with bills, grants, and loans.

If your loved one is having a hard time making ends meet, they may qualify for some government assistance that makes getting through each month a little easier.

2. Benefits Check Up

The National Council on Aging’s Benefits Check Up site provides a similar service but makes the search process a little more focused on a senior’s particular situation. The Benefits Check Up website is designed specifically with seniors in mind, so it’s pretty intuitive and makes the process of finding the benefits seniors qualify for as easy as possible.

3. Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement

On average, women outlive men by five to ten years. A longer life is often seen as a good thing, but if a woman retires at roughly the same time as a man, after having met the same savings goal, then her calculations won’t add up right. She’ll end up with less money per year during retirement than her male counterparts.

WISER, the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, recognizes the unique financial challenges that face women and thus seeks to help women specifically. They provide a number of educational resources and do advocacy work to help bring attention to the economic challenges faced by senior women.

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4. National Council on Aging’s Economic Security Programs

The National Council on Aging provides a number of programs for seniors, including several focused on helping seniors achieve financial health during retirement. Their programs cover a few key subjects that can help seniors get through their retirement years with fewer financial concerns:

Understanding the benefits available to seniors
Understanding how to use home equity to your advantage
Tips for money smarter money management
Resources for finding work as a senior

Each of these programs can help equip seniors with the knowledge they need to get past financial rough spots.

5. Area Agency on Aging Directory

Seniors are far too often the victims of scammers. That makes it especially challenging for them to identify the professionals they can trust to provide genuinely good advice. The Area Agency of Aging has put together a directory of trustworthy resources seniors can count on.

Seniors can search by city or zip code to find businesses or counselors that can provide help with a wide range of specialties including financial assistance, legal assistance, home repair and modification, and health insurance. If seniors find themselves confused or overwhelmed trying to understand the resources at their disposal, identifying a trustworthy professional through this directory can help.

6. Senior Community Service Employment Program

Retirement is great, but many seniors reach a point where getting by on their savings is no longer feasible and it’s worth getting back to work to get a paycheck again. The United States Department of Labor offers a Senior Community Service Employment Program that helps seniors find part-time jobs so they can start earning a paycheck again.

7. Meals on Wheels

No senior should have to go hungry. Meals on Wheels serves thousands of communities throughout the United States, ensuring that seniors have access to regular meals and – just as importantly for many – social interactions with the volunteers that bring the food.

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8. Medicare’s Extra Help

Amongst the unfortunate symptoms of aging is that, as health needs increase, health costs go up. Medicare can help with some of those costs, but many seniors still find they need some extra support covering the cost of their prescriptions. Luckily, Medicare’s Extra Help program exists precisely for that purpose. For seniors that qualify, Extra Help can cover up to $4,000 extra each year in prescriptions.

9. PACE

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) is another Medicare program devoted to helping seniors get the care and services they need to age in place rather than moving into a senior care facility.

10. SHIP

Government programs can be pretty complicated and hard for anyone to navigate. SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs) will help seniors better understand their Medicare benefits and ensure they’re getting all the coverage they need and qualify for. Seniors can receive counseling and assistance from a SHIP specialist at no cost.

Life always manages to seem expensive, and once seniors retire, all those unplanned for expenses become ever more serious and hard to manage. These resources are available for a reason: people care. Don’t hesitate to reach out and see what help is available for you or a loved one.

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Meet the Author

Kristen Hicks

The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom (of which OurParents is a trademark) and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.