Benefits for seniors in Washington, DC

Medicaid for people 65 and over

DC Medicaid covers people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and who live in DC and are U.S. citizens or have an eligible immigration status.

• Income: up to 100% of the federal poverty level. For 2026 that is $1,330 a month for one person or $1,804 for two.
• Resources: below $4,000 for one person. This counts cash, bank and retirement accounts, stocks, bonds and the cash value of life insurance.
• Not counted: your home, a car, furniture, clothing and jewelry.

If you also have Medicare, Medicaid helps pay what Medicare does not.

Long-term care

Medicaid also pays for nursing home care and for care at home through the EPD Waiver (see "Help staying at home").

• Income: up to $2,982 a month for one person in 2026 (300% of the SSI federal payment).
• Assets: $4,000 for one person or $6,000 for a married couple.
• Spend down: If your income is too high, you may still qualify by "spending down" on medical bills. The 2026 spend-down income level is $856.90 a month for one person. Spend-down coverage lasts six months at a time.

Estate recovery: If you got nursing home care, EPD Waiver services, or related hospital care and drugs at age 55 or older, DC may seek repayment from your estate after you die. It waits while a surviving spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or disabled child lives in the home. Your family can ask for a hardship waiver. QMB benefits are not subject to estate recovery.

Help paying Medicare costs

DC's QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) program is much more generous than in most states.

• Who qualifies: You have Medicare Part A, Part B or both, live in DC, and have income up to 300% of the poverty level.
• Income limit for 2026: $4,010 a month for one person or $5,430 for two. These amounts already include the $20 income disregard.
• What it pays: your Part A and Part B premiums, plus Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
• Assets: There is no asset limit. Your savings do not count.

Because the limit is so high, people who would fit the federal SLMB or QI programs qualify for QMB instead. QMB is not full Medicaid, but if you also meet the Medicaid rules above, you get both.

If you qualify for QMB, you also get Extra Help with Medicare drug costs automatically.

Prescription drug help

For people with Medicare in DC, the main help is the federal Extra Help program for Medicare Part D. With Extra Help, you pay no more than $5.10 for a generic drug and $12.65 for a brand-name drug in 2026. Many people in DC get Extra Help through QMB. The DC SHIP can help you apply.

Extra state payment with SSI

DC does not pay a supplement to SSI recipients who live in their own home. If you live at home, you get only the federal SSI payment, which is $994 a month for one person in 2026.

DC pays an Optional State Supplemental Payment only to people on SSI (or who meet SSI rules) who live in a DC-licensed adult foster care home, such as a Certified Residential Facility or Adult Living Facility. People who get this payment are also eligible for Medicaid.

Food help

SNAP (food stamps) is run by the DC Department of Human Services, Economic Security Administration.

• Online: apply or renew through District Direct at https://dhs.dc.gov/districtdirect, or the District Direct mobile app.
• Phone: for questions, call the Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355 (TTY 711).
• In person: at a DHS Service Center, or mail or fax a paper Integrated Application. The same form covers SNAP and Medicaid.

Rules that help older adults:

• DC has no asset limit for SNAP for most households.
• If someone in your home is 60 or older or disabled, you only have to pass the net income test. Medical costs over $35 a month that you pay yourself can be deducted, and there is no cap on the shelter deduction.
• DC runs a simpler SNAP process for older adults (the Elderly Simplified Application Project). It can mean longer approval periods and no interview at renewal. Ask about it when you apply.

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: DC residents 60 and over who get SNAP, SSI, Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, or who meet the income rules, can get a card for fresh produce, herbs and honey at farmers' markets from June 1 to November 30. There is no separate application. You must be enrolled in, or on the waitlist for, the Grocery Plus monthly food box program. DC Health Farmers' Market Hotline: (202) 299-3775.

The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) helps low-income seniors with SNAP and Medicaid applications. Call (202) 724-5626 for an appointment.

Help staying at home

EPD Waiver (Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities): Medicaid home care for DC residents who would otherwise need nursing home care. You must be 65 or older, or 18 to 64 with a physical disability.

• Services: a case manager, personal care aide help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting, a personal emergency response system, and assisted living for some people.
• Services My Way lets you choose your own workers and how your care is given.
• The waiver also offers adult day health, respite care and home changes for some people.
• How to apply: DACL's Medicaid Services Enrollment Unit helps you apply. A DC Medicaid provider fills out a Prescription Order Form, and then an assessor visits you to decide your level of need. Call DACL at (202) 724-5626.

Personal care aide services: If you do not meet the EPD Waiver rules, Medicaid may still pay for a personal care aide at home. Your doctor must order it, and it needs approval first. Ask DACL for an assessment at (202) 724-5626.

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly): For people 55 and over who need nursing-home-level care and live in ZIP codes 20019, 20020 or 20032 (parts of Wards 7 and 8). It is taking new members. Call the DHCF PACE coordinator at (202) 535-1960.

Property tax and housing help

DC has several tax breaks for older homeowners. Apply at MyTax.DC.gov.

• Homestead Deduction: lowers your home's assessed value by $91,950 for tax year 2026. You need this to get the senior relief below.
• Senior Citizen or Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief: cuts your property tax by 50% if you are 65 or older (or disabled), own at least half the home, and your household's federal adjusted gross income is less than $163,500 for tax year 2026. Use form ASD-100.
• Senior Assessment Cap: with both breaks above, the taxable value of your home generally cannot rise more than 2% a year.
• Low-Income Senior Property Tax Deferral: if you are 65 or older with household income under $50,000, you can put off paying your whole yearly tax bill. Use form ASD-110.
• Schedule H credit (homeowners and renters): lowers your DC income tax by up to $1,425. For 2025 income, the limit is $90,000 if you are 70 or older, or $66,000 if you are younger. File it with Form D-40 or by itself on MyTax.DC.gov.

Questions: OTR Customer Service, (202) 727-4829.

Help with energy bills

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) is run by the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE).

• Regular help: a one-time payment of $250 to $1,800 toward your energy bill. The amount depends on household size, income, heating type and home type.
• Emergency help: if your gas or electric service is cut off or your heating oil is nearly gone.
• Applications for the new program year open October 20, 2026. Income limits are posted on DOEE's LIHEAP page.
• Call 311 or (202) 737-4404 to set up an appointment at a DOEE Energy Center. Walk-ins are not accepted. You can also mail your application.
• Bring photo ID, recent utility bills, proof of income, and Social Security cards for everyone in your home.
• Only DOEE can accept LIHEAP applications. Do not give your application to a utility or anyone else.

Utility Discount Program (UDP): DOEE also offers yearly discounts on electric, gas, and water and sewer bills for income-eligible residents. The bills must be in your name. Applications for the new year also open October 20, 2026. Same phone: 311 or (202) 737-4404.

Free help and counseling

• DC SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): free one-on-one Medicare counseling, help comparing drug plans, and help applying for QMB and Extra Help. Call (202) 727-8370 or email [email protected].
• Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL): DC's aging agency and Aging and Disability Resource Center. Call (202) 724-5626 (TTY 711), or visit 500 K Street NE.
• Office of the Health Care Ombudsman and Bill of Rights: help with Medicaid or QMB problems, such as a lost card or unpaid premiums. Call 1-877-685-6391.
• Adult Protective Services: (202) 541-3950.

How to apply

Check what you may qualify for