Living on a fixed income can be tough, especially as the costs of living continue to increase. While many senior citizens work all their lives to save for retirement, it may not be enough to keep up with never-ending expenses.
Luckily, several government grants can help seniors get the financial help they need. Let’s take a look at some of them now.
The federal government, for-profit organizations, non-profit agencies, and other entities set aside funds called grants. These forms of free money are awarded for specific purposes, and unlike loans, they do not have to be paid back.
A senior citizen grant usually aims to help people who are approximately 65 years of age or older with various living expenses. Here are some examples:
Some seniors may find that their home needs costly repairs to remove health or safety hazards or modernize them. Making such repairs could seem impossible on a fixed income, but thanks to this government grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, it can become a reality.
The Section 504 Home Repair Program offers grants up to $7,500 to very-low-income homeowners in rural areas. As long as the home is not sold within three years of the repair, the grant does not have to be paid back.
The program also offers loans for the same purpose up to $20,000 at an extremely low fixed interest rate of 1%.
Seniors over the age of 62 with an annual household income below the federal poverty level could be eligible for this grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Who is the Section 202 program ideal for? A senior citizen who would like to be independent while still having access to help with some daily functions.
If a nursing home isn’t desirable, the elder can enjoy independence in an environment that provides necessities such as cleaning, cooking, transportation, and healthcare.
While a senior’s living situation is critical, their health is even more crucial. Getting the proper nutrition on a limited income can be difficult. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s bevy of food programs, however, nutrition becomes easily accessible for those who are eligible.
To ensure seniors have access to locally grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, and honey, there’s the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
Similarly, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) offers low-income people over 60 the ability to enjoy nutrient-rich USDA foods that many not fit in their fixed budget.
Transportation can be difficult for seniors who no longer drive or lack access to their own vehicle. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) addresses this issue with this program that aims to expand seniors’ mobility in certain areas via:
To learn more about this program and other ways in which the FTA helps seniors with transportation, visit the program’s official site here.
Natalia crafts informative articles on many subjects that affect seniors' lives. With an eye on her own aging loved ones, her writing engages and resonates with younger and older adults alike. Her background includes a bachelor's degree in journalism and more than six years as a writer and researcher covering topics like retirement, senior care, and products for the elderly. She also writes about college, vocational training, and career planning.
