An estimated 9 million older adults are missing out on benefits they’d likely qualify for — not because they don’t need the help, but because they don’t know the programs exist or how to check. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) built a free tool to close that gap. Here’s what BenefitsCheckUp is, what it can find for you, and how to use it.
What Is BenefitsCheckUp
BenefitsCheckUp is a free, confidential online screening tool run by the National Council on Aging. NCOA describes it as screening for more than 2,000 benefits, including public and private programs, and it tells you which ones you may qualify for — without you having to research each program’s rules yourself.
What Kinds of Benefits It Can Find
Depending on your location and situation, BenefitsCheckUp can surface programs covering:
- Food assistance (SNAP)
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)
- Medicare Part D Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy)
- Medicaid
- Utility and home energy assistance
The gap is large. NCOA’s May 2026 update to its Benefits Participation Map, which uses 2023 data for adults 65 and older, found that many eligible people never enroll. The counts below overlap, so don’t add them together.
| Program | Eligible older adults not enrolled | Share of eligible 65+ who participate | Average monthly benefit NCOA used |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP (food assistance) | 9.1 million | 38% | $188 |
| SSI (cash support) | 3.6 million | 40% | $552 |
| Medicare Savings Programs | 6.6 million | 49% | $165 |
NCOA puts the value of benefits left unclaimed in 2023 at about $58 billion. It says many people simply don’t know these programs exist, or wrongly assume they earn too much.
How the Screening Works
The process is straightforward:
- Enter your ZIP code and answer a short series of questions about your household and situation
- Get a personalized report listing the programs you may be eligible for
- Review each program’s details and start the enrollment process, either online or through the agency directly
Your results come back as an “Eligibility Results” report. NCOA says you can view it as a PDF, email it to yourself or a relative, go back and edit your answers, or run the screening again for someone else, such as a parent. The screening starts with just your ZIP code and the benefit categories you care about. Some programs, including SNAP, Medicare Extra Help, and the Medicare Savings Programs, ask for a few more details before they can tell you whether you may qualify.
What One Result Looks Like: Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare Savings Programs are one of the most common hits for people on Medicare with limited income, and the four tiers work differently. Here are Medicare.gov’s 2026 figures for a single person (limits are a little higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and some states count income more generously).
| Program | What it pays | Monthly income limit (single) | Resource limit (single) |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB | Part B premium, plus deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Medicare-covered services (and Part A premium if you owe one) | $1,350 | $9,950 |
| SLMB | Part B premium only | $1,616 | $9,950 |
| QI | Part B premium only | $1,816 | $9,950 |
| QDWI | Part A premium only, for working people with a disability | $5,405 | $4,000 |
NCOA shares one real case from its BenefitsCheckUp article: Harry, 68, and his wife worked with a benefits counselor who helped them see potential savings of $7,175 a year by getting Harry into the QMB program, which would reinstate his Medicare Part B coverage. Your numbers will differ, but the Part B premium alone is a reasonable yardstick. NCOA’s average of $165 a month for these programs adds up to about $1,980 over a year.
A screening result is not an approval. The tool tells you what to apply for, and your state still decides. QI is approved first-come, first-served and has to be renewed each year, so it’s worth applying early.
Who Should Use It
BenefitsCheckUp is built for older adults and people with disabilities, and for the family members and caregivers who help them. It’s most useful for people on a fixed or limited income, particularly those on a fixed or limited income who want a quick way to check for help with food, health care, or utility costs without hunting down dozens of individual program websites.
Other Ways to Get Help
If you’d rather not do it online, or need it in Spanish:
- A Spanish-language version is available at BuscaBeneficios.org
- A toll-free benefits helpline, 1-800-794-6559, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, per NCOA’s 2026 materials
- A “Chat With Us” button in the bottom right corner of BenefitsCheckUp.org connects you to a live representative
- NCOA also supports a network of Benefits Enrollment Centers that help low-income Medicare beneficiaries sign up for programs; the full list is on NCOA.org
FAQ
Is it really free and confidential?
Yes — BenefitsCheckUp is free to use, and NCOA states the screening process is confidential.
Do I have to enroll in everything it finds?
No. The tool only generates a personalized report of what you may qualify for; enrolling in any specific program is entirely up to you.
Is this only for U.S. residents?
BenefitsCheckUp screens against U.S. federal, state, and local programs, so it’s intended for people living in the United States.
Related: Could a Medicare Savings Program Cover Your Part B Premium? Check QMB, SLMB and QI · SNAP for Seniors in 2026-27
This article is for general informational purposes and is not financial or legal advice. Program availability varies by state and county — always confirm current details on BenefitsCheckUp.org before applying.
Worked Example: Which Medicare Savings Program Tier Might You Land In?
Assumptions: a single person on Medicare with countable resources under $9,950, using the 2026 federal limits from the table above. States can count income and resources differently, so treat this as a rough guide only.
| Monthly income (single) | Likely tier at the federal limits | What it could cover |
|---|---|---|
| $1,300 | QMB (limit $1,350) | Part B premium plus deductibles, coinsurance and copays |
| $1,500 | SLMB (limit $1,616) | Part B premium |
| $1,700 | QI (limit $1,816) | Part B premium |
| $1,900 | Above the federal limits | Screen anyway, since states may count income more generously |
How much is the premium worth? CMS sets the 2026 standard Part B premium at $202.90 a month. Over a year that is $202.90 x 12 = $2,434.80. NCOA’s average of $165 a month is a bit lower, so the real figure for you could land anywhere in that range depending on your situation. For married couples, Medicare.gov lists higher federal limits, for example $1,824 a month in income and $14,910 in resources for QMB.
Which Situation Are You In?
- You are on Medicare and your income is limited: Start with the Medicare Savings Programs section of the report. If one of them shows up, your state is the one that decides, so apply through your state.
- You are not sure you have the right paperwork: Run the screening first anyway. The tool starts with just your ZIP code and benefit categories, then asks follow-up questions for programs such as SNAP, Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Programs.
- You are helping a parent: NCOA says you can run the screening again for someone else and email the results to a relative.
- You would rather talk to a person: Use the helpline or the chat button listed above, or look for a Benefits Enrollment Center near you.
- You think you earn too much: NCOA says many people wrongly assume that. Check anyway, since Medicare.gov says states may count income and resources differently and you may qualify even above the federal numbers.
Timeline: From Screening to Savings
- Day 1: Run the screening, then download or email the Eligibility Results report so you can refer back to it.
- Same week: Pick the one or two programs with the biggest dollar value, such as a Medicare Savings Program or SNAP, and apply through the agency listed in your report. Medicare.gov says to apply even if you don’t think you qualify, because your state makes the final determination.
- After you apply: Processing times vary by state and I could not find a single national timeline, so ask the agency when to expect a decision.
- Every year: QI must be reapplied for each year, and approval is first-come, first-served, with priority for people who had QI the previous year. Mark your calendar so you don’t lose the benefit.
Common Mistakes
- Treating a screening result as an approval. It tells you what to apply for, not what you will get.
- Adding up the 9.1 million, 3.6 million and 6.6 million figures. They overlap, as the table note says.
- Applying for only one program when a result lists several. Each program has its own application, so work through the list.
- Waiting on QI. Because it is first-come, first-served, applying early is safer than waiting until late in the year.
- Skipping the screening because your income is above a figure you heard from a friend. Limits differ by state and household.