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NCOA campaign aims to connect millions of seniors with unclaimed benefits

The seniors’ advocacy group is offering a tool to identify help

Updated:

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By:
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Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.
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Key Insights

  • About nine million older Americans are eligible for critical benefits, but they aren’t receiving them.
  • The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is promoting “Boost Your Budget Week” (April 13–17, 2026) to connect seniors with financial and health assistance programs.
  • Advocates say these benefits — covering food, health care, and more — can be life-saving and add thousands of dollars annually to limited incomes.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA)  has launched a campaign to focus attention on a persistent gap in the nation’s safety net: millions of older adults who qualify for assistance but never receive it.

The organization reports that nearly nine million older Americans are missing out on benefits that could help cover essential costs such as food, health care, and transportation. 

The awareness campaign encourages seniors, caregivers, and community groups to use NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp.org tool to identify and apply for programs they may qualify for. 

“These benefits literally save lives,” said Josh Hodges, NCOA’s chief customer officer, noting that many eligible seniors either are unaware of the programs or mistakenly believe they don’t qualify.

High stakes

The stakes are high. NCOA points to research showing that adults aged 60 and older with very low incomes can have significantly shorter life expectancies than their higher-income peers. 

More broadly, the organization estimates that over 17 million Americans age 65 and older are economically insecure, facing rising costs for housing, health care, and daily living expenses.

Programs highlighted during the campaign include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and prescription drug subsidies — resources that can collectively save eligible seniors thousands of dollars each year.

The barriers

Despite their impact, enrollment barriers persist. Limited awareness, complex application processes, and misconceptions about eligibility often prevent seniors from accessing aid. 

To address these challenges, NCOA works with a nationwide network of local organizations that provide benefits screening and enrollment assistance, while its online tool offers a free, confidential way for individuals to check eligibility in minutes. 

Advocates say the campaign is not just about raising awareness but about improving long-term financial and health outcomes for older Americans living on fixed incomes.