Benefits for seniors in Massachusetts

Medicaid for people 65 and over

MassHealth is run by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. For people 65 and over who live at home, the main coverage is MassHealth Standard.

• Income: countable income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. As of March 1, 2026, that is about $1,330 a month for one person and $1,804 for a married couple.
• Assets: $2,000 or less for one person, $3,000 or less for a married couple living together. MassHealth generally looks at the income and assets of both you and your spouse.
• What it covers: doctor and hospital care, prescriptions, and long-term services. If you also have Medicare, Medicare pays first.

Long-term care. MassHealth can pay for nursing home care and for care at home through waivers (see "Help staying at home"). If you live in a nursing home, you keep a personal needs allowance of $72.80 a month, and the rest of your income goes toward your care. Home equity above $1,130,000 can block eligibility. If your spouse stays at home, they can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in assets, and may keep some of your income, up to $4,066.50 a month in total.

Estate recovery. After a member dies, MassHealth may seek repayment from the probate estate for nursing home and certain other long-term care received at 55 or older. It waits while a spouse, a child under 21, or a blind or disabled child survives, and it waives recovery for probate estates of $25,000 or less.

Help paying Medicare costs

Massachusetts offers the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), which used to be called MassHealth Buy-In. They pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), and QMB also pays Medicare deductibles and copays. Massachusetts limits are well above the federal ones:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): income up to 190% of the poverty level. That is about $2,527 a month for one person and $3,427 for a couple.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): income above the QMB limit and up to 210% of the poverty level. Pays the Part B premium.
• QI (Qualifying Individual): income above the SLMB limit and up to 225% of the poverty level. That is about $2,993 a month for one person and $4,058 for a couple. Pays the Part B premium.
• Income counted: MassHealth takes $20 off your unearned income first, so apply even if you are a little over.
• Assets: none. Since March 1, 2024, there is no asset limit for the Medicare Savings Programs.

Dollar limits change each year on March 1. If you qualify for any MSP, you also get Extra Help with drug costs automatically.

Prescription drug help

Prescription Advantage is the state's pharmacy assistance program. It works alongside Medicare drug coverage.

Important: Prescription Advantage stopped accepting new applications after September 11, 2026. If you are already a member, your membership continues. Members can call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 and choose option 3.

If you are not a member, apply for Extra Help. It lowers Part D premiums and copays. Getting a Medicare Savings Program (above) gives you Extra Help automatically.

Extra state payment with SSI

Massachusetts adds a state supplement to the federal SSI payment. For an aged person living on their own ("full cost of living"), the total SSI payment in 2026 is $1,122.82 a month. That is the federal payment of $994 plus a state supplement of about $128.82. Amounts are different if you share housing, live in another person's household, or live in a rest home or assisted living. Massachusetts runs the supplement itself; Social Security lists it as state-administered.

Food help

SNAP is run by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).

• People 60 and older can use the shorter SNAP application for seniors.
• Some older and disabled households can use SNAP for hot meals at participating restaurants (the Restaurant Meals Program).
• Healthy Incentives Program (HIP): when you use SNAP to buy fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors, you get money put back on your EBT card, up to a monthly amount: $40 for 1 or 2 people, $60 for 3 to 5 people, and $80 for 6 or more.

Senior Farmers' Market coupons. People 60 and over can get coupons for fresh local produce in summer. From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, household income must be no more than $29,526 a year for one person or $40,034 for two. Contact the Senior Nutrition Project that serves your city or town (listed on mass.gov). Coupons are seasonal and can run out, and the booklet value is set each season.

Help staying at home

• Frail Elder Waiver: MassHealth pays for home services such as personal care, homemaker help, respite and home-delivered meals. You must be 65 or over (or 60 to 64 with a disability), need the level of care a nursing home gives, and meet MassHealth Standard financial rules. Ask your local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) for an assessment.
• PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly): for people 55 and over (55 to 64 with a disability) who live in a PACE service area and are certified as needing nursing home care, but can live safely at home. You do not need MassHealth to join, but MassHealth may pay the premium if you qualify.
• Senior Care Options (SCO): a MassHealth option for people 65 and over. Ask SHINE or MassHealth whether it fits you.
• State Home Care Program: for adults 60 and over living at home who need help with daily tasks. Services include personal care, homemaker help, meals, adult day health and transportation. You do not need MassHealth; what you pay is based on your income.

To find your ASAP, call MassOptions at 1-800-243-4636 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and ask for an options counselor.

Property tax and housing help

Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit. This state income tax credit helps homeowners and renters 65 and over whose property tax or rent is high compared with their income.

• Maximum credit: $2,820 for tax year 2025 (the return you file in 2026).
• Income limits: $75,000 for a single person, $94,000 for a head of household, $112,000 for a married couple filing jointly.
• Homeowners: the assessed value of your home must be no more than $1,298,000.
• Renters: 25% of your yearly rent must be more than 10% of your total income.
• How to claim: fill out Schedule CB with your Massachusetts income tax return. You can claim up to 3 years back.

Local exemptions and deferrals. Cities and towns choose which senior exemptions to offer, so ask your local board of assessors.

• Senior exemptions (Clause 41, 41B, 41C): for homeowners 70 and over (some towns lower this to 65) with limited income and assets. The exemption is at least $500 off your tax bill, and some towns give more.
• Tax deferral (Clause 41A): homeowners 65 and over can put off paying some or all of their property tax. The deferred tax plus interest is paid when the home is sold or after the owner dies.
• Apply each year with your local assessors. The deadline is April 1 or three months after tax bills are mailed, whichever is later.

Help with energy bills

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), often called fuel assistance, helps pay winter heating bills.

• Income: household income cannot be more than 60% of the estimated state median income. For the 2026-2027 season (fiscal year 2027) that is $53,585 a year for one person and $70,073 for two. Not all income counts, so check with your local agency.
• Season: help covers heating bills from November 1 to April 30.
• Apply: online at toapply.org/MassHEAP, or with the local agency serving your town. The online application opens on October 1 each year. Everyone reapplies each year.
• Discounts: if you get fuel assistance, you also get discounts on bills from the investor-owned electric and gas companies and on phone bills.
• Questions: call 2-1-1 (Mass 211), any time, or the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175.

Free help and counseling

• SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone on Medicare) is the state's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program. Call (800) 243-4636 (TTY (800) 439-2370), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. SHINE counselors can help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program.
• MassOptions (1-800-243-4636) connects you with your local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) for home care and caregiver help.
• Executive Office of Aging & Independence is the state aging agency. It runs SHINE and works with local ASAPs and Councils on Aging.

How to apply

Check what you may qualify for