Unlocking Benefits at 65: A Guide to Government Support for Seniors
- Author: Alicia Cole
- Posted: 2025-05-21
Turning 65 is a big moment for many people in the United States, not just personally but also because it opens doors to several benefits from the government.
This includes help with health care costs, income support, food assistance, and even help with transportation in some cases. Some of these benefits start automatically when you turn 65, while others need you to apply for them.
It's important to know what help is available, how to get it, and how you might be able to combine different types of support.
Key Benefits for Those Over 65:
1. Social Security Retirement Benefits
Social Security is something many have heard about. It's a system that gives you money every month if you've worked and paid into the system for a significant part of your life. Although you can start getting Social Security payments at 62, many wait until they're 65 to get a bigger share of their benefit.
The amount you get each month depends on how long you've worked and how much you earned. To qualify, you need to have at least 40 work credits, roughly equal to 10 years of work. Waiting until you're 66 or 67 earns you 100% of your benefit amount. Starting at 65 means you'll get less each month.
In 2025, the most you can get each month, if you retire at your full retirement age, is $4,018. However, to reach that amount, you need to have earned a high income for at least 35 years and wait until you're 66 or 67 (depending on when you were born) before you apply.
2. Medicare
Medicare is health insurance that starts at age 65. If you're already getting Social Security, you'll get Medicare automatically. If not, you'll need to sign up. Medicare helps cover hospital stays and doctor visits.
Additional Supports:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Extra help for those with low incomes, and you can get it along with Social Security. The maximum you can receive from SSI in 2025 is $967.
- SNAP: Financial help for buying food, with special rules making it easier for people over 60 to qualify.
- State Assistance Programs: These can offer reduced prices on services, help with rent, or even tax breaks, depending on where you live.
Combining Social Security with these other benefits can help many older adults live more comfortably, covering their basic needs and ensuring they have a stable income after turning 65.
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