About this resource
BenefitsCheckUp, a free service of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), is the nation’s most comprehensive online tool for helping older adults and people with disabilities find benefit programs that can help pay for everyday needs. Many people miss out on assistance they qualify for simply because they don’t know it exists; BenefitsCheckUp closes that gap.
The tool screens for thousands of public and private benefit programs across categories such as food and nutrition (including SNAP), prescription medications and health care, income assistance, utility and energy help, housing, tax relief, and veterans’ benefits. Users answer questions about their situation — or a caregiver completes it on a loved one’s behalf — and BenefitsCheckUp generates a personalized list of programs they may be eligible for, along with information on how to apply. The service is confidential and completely free.
This resource matters because billions of dollars in benefits go unclaimed each year, even as many older adults struggle to afford food, medicine, and utilities. For caregivers, running a BenefitsCheckUp can uncover meaningful, ongoing financial relief that eases both their loved one’s hardship and their own. It’s a simple, high-impact first step in shoring up a loved one’s finances. Caregivers can use the free tool at benefitscheckup.org, and a local Area Agency on Aging can help with applications for the programs it identifies.
What you'll get from this resource
- BenefitsCheckUp, from the National Council on Aging, is a free tool to find benefits that help pay for everyday needs.
- Screens for programs covering food/SNAP, medications, health care, income, utilities, housing, and more.
- Generates a personalized list of programs a person may qualify for, with how-to-apply information.
- Free and confidential at benefitscheckup.org; caregivers can complete it for a loved one.
Frequently asked questions
A free National Council on Aging tool that screens older adults and people with disabilities for benefit programs they may qualify for.
Programs for food and nutrition (including SNAP), medications and health care, income assistance, utilities, housing, tax relief, and veterans’ benefits.
Answer questions about your (or a loved one’s) situation at benefitscheckup.org for a personalized list of programs and how to apply. It’s free and confidential.
We're here to help.
You've found your partner in caregiving. Connect with your local Area Agency on Aging for personalized services, programs, and support in your area.
