Optional State Supplementation
The Florida Department of Children and Families provides financial assistance to low-income seniors in assisted living facilities or other types of community care through the Optional State Supplementation program. Money from the OSS is designed to help seniors pay for the room and board portion of their care, and payments are usually directed to the facility.
To qualify, seniors must either receive SSI benefits or earn an income that’s at or below SSI rates and own no more than $2,000 in countable assets. If approved, individual seniors may receive a maximum of $78.40 per month, while couples applying together may be eligible for up to $156.80 per month.
For more information, contact ACCESS Florida at (866) 762-2237.
Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance
Veterans and survivors who receive a regular VA pension may be eligible for additional funding through VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance. These two programs provide pension top-ups for qualified applicants who are either housebound as a result of a disability or have an illness or disability that significantly limits their ability to function independently.
Aid and Attendance provides a maximum annual pension of $22,577 to veterans without dependents and $26,766 for veterans with one dependent. For survivors, the maximum annual pension is $14,509 without dependents and $17,309 with one dependent.
To qualify for A&A, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a resident of a nursing home as a result of physical and/or mental deterioration or disability
- Require assistance from another person to perform one or more activities of daily living, such as installing and removing a prosthetic device, using the toilet, dressing and/or eating
The Housebound Allowance provides a maximum annual pension of $16,540 to veterans without dependents and $20,731 for veterans with one dependent. For survivors, the maximum annual pension is $11,095 without dependents and $13,893 with one dependent.
To qualify for the Housebound Allowance, applicants must have a permanent disability limiting them to their principal place of residence aside from travel needed to attend medical appointments.
For more information and assistance with the application process, contact the
Southshore Regional Service Center at (813) 272-5600.