About Government Funding for Disabled Senior Citizens

Several government programs provide support for disabled senior citizens. To find out if they qualify for Social Security benefits or Medicare, seniors should contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. To find out if they qualify for Medicaid, seniors should contact the agency that administers Medicaid in the county in which they live.

Social Security Benefits

• Social Security offers several benefits for senior citizens and disabled people. Senior citizens that worked and paid into Social Security in the past usually qualify for retirement benefits. Those that become disabled before retirement age may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Those who do not qualify for SSDI or retirement benefits may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Medicare

• Medicare provides health insurance for senior citizens. People who qualify for SSDI or SSI can also receive Medicare after they have qualified for those benefits for 2 years.

Medicaid

• A state-administered program, Medicaid pays for medical care for senior citizens with low incomes and limited resources. Many disabled people also qualify for Medicaid even before they reach age 65. Disabled senior citizens may qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, in which case Medicaid will pay for things Medicare does not cover.