Benefits for seniors in Pennsylvania

Medicaid for people 65 and over

Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is called Medical Assistance. People 65 and over, and people who are blind or disabled, qualify under rules that count both income and savings.

• Income: The main group for older adults has a net income limit of about $1,016.10 a month for one person and $1,524.30 for two. "Net" means some income is not counted, so apply even if you are a little over.
• Savings (resources): $2,000 for one person, $3,000 for two.
• Medically Needy Only: If your income is higher, you may still qualify once large medical bills are subtracted. The net income limit is $425 a month for one person, with a resource limit of $2,400.
• What it covers: Doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and more. If you also have Medicare, MA fills many of Medicare's gaps.

Long-term care. MA can pay for a nursing home or for care at home. For 2026, the income limit is $2,982 a month for one person. The resource limit is $2,000, plus an extra $6,000 that is not counted. If you are married and your spouse stays at home, your spouse can keep half of the couple's savings, at least $32,532 and no more than $162,660. DHS looks back 60 months at gifts or sales below fair value.

Estate recovery. After death, Pennsylvania may seek repayment from the estate for long-term care paid after age 55. Hardship waivers exist. Call the Estate Recovery Program at (800) 528-3708.

Help paying Medicare costs

Pennsylvania calls its Medicare Savings Programs Healthy Horizons or Medicare Buy-In. They use the federal income limits:

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): Pays your Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. Income up to $1,350 a month for one person, $1,824 for a couple.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): Pays your Part B premium. Income up to $1,616 a month for one person, $2,184 for a couple.
• QI-1 (Qualifying Individual): Pays your Part B premium. Income up to $1,816 a month for one person, $2,455 for a couple.
• Savings limit: $9,950 for one person, $14,910 for a couple. A lower limit applies if you also want full MA coverage with QMB.

If you get any of these programs, you also get Extra Help with Medicare drug costs automatically. To apply, use COMPASS or call DHS at 1-866-550-4355.

Prescription drug help

Pennsylvania has two state drug programs for people 65 and over, paid for by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Their names can be confusing:

• PACE here means the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly, a state drug program. It is not the federal "PACE" care program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). In Pennsylvania, that federal care program is called LIFE; see "Help staying at home" below.
• PACENET is a second tier of the same drug program for people with somewhat higher income.

Who qualifies: You must be 65 or older, have lived in Pennsylvania for at least 90 days, and not get your drugs through Medical Assistance. Income is based on last year's gross income:

• PACE: $14,500 or less for one person; $17,700 or less combined for a married couple.
• PACENET: up to $33,500 for one person; up to $41,500 for a couple.

What you pay: PACE copays are $6 for a generic drug and $9 for a brand-name drug. PACENET copays are $8 and $15, and PACENET members also pay a monthly amount tied to the Medicare drug plan premium, only in months they fill a prescription.

Works with Medicare: PACE and PACENET work alongside Medicare Part D and other drug coverage to lower what you pay. A state law keeps people enrolled even if a Social Security cost-of-living raise pushes them over the limit, through December 31, 2027.

How to apply: Call 1-800-225-7223, or apply online at pacecares.primetherapeutics.com. If you do not qualify, ask about the PACE Clearinghouse, which can help people 18 and over with drug costs and other needs. Also check Extra Help.

Extra state payment with SSI

Pennsylvania adds money to the federal SSI payment. It comes with your SSI check. For people living in their own home, the state amount is small; check the current amount with Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

The state adds much more if you live in certain care homes. In 2026, the total monthly SSI payment for one person is $1,628.30 in domiciliary care and $1,633.30 in a personal care home.

Food help

SNAP (food stamps) has a simple application for households where everyone is 60 or older or has a disability, everyone buys and prepares food together, and no one has earnings from work. Have your medical and housing costs ready when you apply. Apply on COMPASS, by mail, or at your county assistance office. The COMPASS Helpline is 1-800-692-7462.

Other food help for older adults:

• Senior Food Box: A free monthly box of shelf-stable food for people over 60 with low income, given out through food banks.
• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: If you are 60 or older with income up to $29,526 a year for one person ($40,034 for two), you can get 5 checks worth $5 each for fresh local produce. Ask your county aging office. Checks are first come, first served.
• Meals: Free meals for people 60 and over and their spouses, at senior centers or delivered to your home. Contact your Area Agency on Aging.

Help staying at home

• Community HealthChoices (CHC): Pennsylvania's managed care program for adults 21 and over who have both Medicare and Medical Assistance, or who need a nursing-home level of care. CHC can pay for care at home instead of in a nursing home. Call the Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227.
• LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly): Pennsylvania's version of the federal PACE care program. It is for people 55 and over who need nursing-home level care but can live safely at home, in an area a LIFE provider serves. LIFE covers doctors, drugs, day center care, home care, and rides. Find a provider through the enrollment broker at 1-877-550-4227.
• OPTIONS: A Department of Aging program for people 60 and over who need help with daily tasks. It can include personal care, home-delivered meals, and adult day services. There is no income limit, but you may pay a share based on income. Apply through your Area Agency on Aging.

Property tax and housing help

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program gives money back to homeowners and renters who are 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older.

• Income limit: $48,110 a year for the household. Only half of your Social Security, SSI and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits count.
• Rebate: Up to $1,000 if your income is $8,550 or less, scaling down to $380 at the top of the income range. Some homeowners with income of $32,070 or less can get a supplemental rebate of up to $500, depending on where they live.
• Deadline: The deadline to apply for the 2025 rebate is December 31, 2026.
• How to apply: Online at mypath.pa.gov, by mail, or with free help in person. Call 1-888-222-9190.

Help with energy bills

LIHEAP helps homeowners and renters with heating bills. The 2026-2027 season is scheduled to open November 2, 2026.

• Income limit: $23,940 a year for one person, $32,460 for two.
• Cash grant: $200 to $1,000, paid to your utility or fuel company. You do not pay it back.
• Crisis grant: For emergencies such as a shut-off notice, running out of fuel, or a broken furnace. Help usually comes within 10 business days.
• How to apply: On COMPASS or at your county assistance office. LIHEAP Hotline: 1-866-857-7095 (711 for hearing impaired).

Free help and counseling

• PA MEDI: Pennsylvania's free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Counselors help with Medicare choices, bills, appeals and costs. They do not sell insurance. Call 1-800-783-7067, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Area Agencies on Aging: Pennsylvania has 52 local agencies. They run meals, OPTIONS, and PA MEDI counseling. Call the Department of Aging at 717-783-1550 to be connected to yours.
• PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources: Free help finding local services. Call 1-800-753-8827.
• Medicare fraud: Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol, 800-356-3606.

How to apply

Check what you may qualify for