Government Programs for Senior Citizens

Finding your way as a senior citizen can be difficult at times. From physical changes in your body to imposed societal limitations, life can be rough.

Luckily, the federal government empathizes with your struggles and has created several programs to help. Here are five of the best government-funded sources for seniors.

Medicare – Part A, Part B, and Prescription Drug Coverage

Created primarily for individuals over 65, Medicare is an insurance provider with two parts.

Whereas Part A of the program provides coverage to patients who have somehow paid into the system, Part B assures patients who did not necessarily contribute to Medicare when working.

Both plans cover inpatient and outpatient services and some home health care.

Part B Medicare requires monthly premium payments and covers certain physical and occupational therapy treatments not insured under Part A of the program.

There is also a Prescription Drug Coverage portion of the assurance system that helps lower prescription drug costs today while protecting seniors against pharmaceutical inflation tomorrow.

Prescription Drug Coverage is considered insurance, not supplemental coverage, requiring a monthly premium separate from Medicare Parts A and B.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Individuals over the age of 65 with limited resources can receive income from the government under the Supplemental Security Income program.

To qualify, a person must be either blind or disabled with limited access to assets that can be liquidated for cash.

Social Security Retirement Insurance

Like a pension earned from working years on a job, Social Security Retirement Insurance is given to citizens 62 years of age or older who are no longer part of the workforce.

To qualify, a person must have worked and paid into the system to the extent of having earned enough social security credits.

Individuals who retire within at least ten years of working one full-time job will have earned at least forty credits, which is enough to claim Social Security Retirement Insurance.

Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind

The federal government gives grants to states every year in support of senior citizens who are blind.

The Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind program provides services to individuals 55 years of age or older and blind.

Although a person does not need to be completely blind to benefit from the program, their visual impairment does need to be rather severe to be a candidate.

Independent Living Services aims to reverse blindness in individuals whose impairment is not permanent. The program also helps those forced to live with a disability for the rest of their lives.

Senior Housing Options

Many housing developments throughout the United States are solely meant for senior citizens.

Such apartments foster communities where at least 80 percent of tenants are 55 or older with limited income and assets.

Senior housing developments are exempt from the Fair Housing Act because managers of these residencies may refuse to rent to individuals younger than 55.