Why Financial Security Matters for America’s Seniors
Growing older with dignity should be within everyone’s reach. Yet for more than 17 million Americans aged 65 and over, daily life is shadowed by mounting housing costs, expensive medical care, food insecurity, limited transportation, shrinking retirement savings, and unexpected job loss. For these older adults, the difference between struggling and stability often comes down to whether they know about—and use—the financial support available to them.
That’s the mission behind the National Council on Aging’s (NCOA) annual Boost Your Budget® Week. Held each April, this campaign raises awareness of the public and private benefit programs that can offer real relief to economically vulnerable seniors, particularly those who rely on Medicare.
Benefit Programs That Put Money Back in Seniors’ Pockets
Several government programs are specifically designed to lighten the financial load for older adults. When combined, they can add up to thousands of dollars in annual savings. Key programs include:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – helps cover the cost of groceries and healthy food.
- Medicaid – provides health coverage for those who qualify based on income.
- Medicare Savings Programs – assist with Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – offsets heating and cooling bills.
- Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) – reduces prescription drug expenses.
Together, these programs can ease the burden of food, healthcare, medications, and utility bills—the very expenses that hit fixed incomes hardest.
The Enrollment Gap: Eligible But Not Enrolled
Despite the availability of these resources, research consistently shows that millions of older adults who qualify never sign up. The reasons are familiar: many simply don’t know the programs exist, while others find the application process confusing or intimidating. As a result, billions of dollars in support go unclaimed every year.
Boost Your Budget® Week was created precisely to close this gap. The campaign’s theme, Find Your Benefits to Age Well, reflects its dual goal of education and connection.
What Boost Your Budget® Week Aims to Achieve
NCOA’s nationwide effort brings together organizations across the aging and disability services sector around two central objectives:
- Educate low-income Medicare recipients and their caregivers about programs that can strengthen their health and financial stability.
- Connect individuals to screening and application help through the online tool BenefitsCheckUp® and community-based resources.
The campaign officially runs during the second full week of April—scheduled for April 13–17, 2026. That said, the materials and messaging can be used for outreach throughout the entire year.
Ideas for Running Your Own Boost Your Budget® Week Campaign
Any community group, nonprofit, or state agency working to enroll low-income seniors and adults with disabilities is invited to take part. There are no rules limiting how you promote your services—creativity is encouraged. A few approaches to consider:
- Fold benefits information into existing events like food drives, health fairs, or tax-prep sessions.
- Host a fundraising or awareness “telethon” with a local radio or television station.
- Place advertisements in community newspapers or run social media campaigns.
- Invite reporters, lawmakers, and local residents to tour your facility and see firsthand why benefits matter.
Tools and Resources to Spread the Word
NCOA provides a ready-to-use toolkit to support your campaign. The Social Media Toolkit offers shareable content for LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)—just click and post.
Additional downloadable assets are available in both English and Spanish, including horizontal and stacked logo versions in black, white, and color formats. Organizations can also explore related materials such as the Medicare Cost Assistance Programs Toolkit and guides on Medicare Part D costs for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Boost Your Budget® Week take place?
It is held annually during the second full week of April. In 2026, the campaign runs from April 13 through April 17.
Who is eligible for these money-saving benefits?
Programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, LIHEAP, and Extra Help generally target older adults living at or near the poverty level. Eligibility varies by program and income, so using a screening tool is the best way to find out.
How can someone check which benefits they qualify for?
NCOA’s free online tool, BenefitsCheckUp®, lets older adults and caregivers quickly screen for programs they may be eligible to receive, then connects them to application assistance.
Can my organization participate in the campaign?
Yes. Any community or state agency helping low-income seniors and adults with disabilities enroll in benefits is welcome to join. NCOA provides free toolkits and materials to support your outreach.
Are these resources available in Spanish?
Yes. NCOA offers campaign materials and logos in Spanish, in addition to English versions.
Conclusion
No older adult should miss out on financial relief simply because they didn’t know help existed. Boost Your Budget® Week is a powerful reminder that life-changing benefits are available—and that with the right information and a little guidance, eligible seniors can claim the support they deserve. Whether you’re an aging adult, a caregiver, or a service provider, take a moment this April to explore BenefitsCheckUp® and help build a more secure future for America’s older population.
This information was supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as part of a financial assistance award. The contents reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.