Part D Extra Help (LIS)

$6,200 (per year)

This is the Social Security Administration’s estimated value as of April 2025.

Social Security Administration

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

$2,220 (per year; $185 per month)

The $185 value represents the Part B monthly premium in 2025.

CMS

SNAP (Food Stamps)

$2,256 (per year; $188 per month)

The $188 monthly value is the average SNAP benefit for households with "elderly individuals" during FY2023, excluding emergency allotments. See page 14 of the FY23 report.

USDA FNS

Medicaid

$19,079 (per year)

The $19,079 value is the average Medicaid expenditure per beneficiary for those age 65+ in 2022.

Medicaid

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

$662 (per year)

The FY22 LIHEAP Report to Congress provides average benefit values for each LIHEAP benefit type, but no overall value. Heating assistance is by far the most common type of LIHEAP benefit (85% of households), so the $662 average value for heating assistance was chosen (see page 42).

HHS ACF

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

$8,374.68 (per year; $697.89 per month)

The $697.89 value is the average monthly benefit for all beneficiaries as of January 2024.

Social Security Administration

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

$16,743.96 (per year; $1,395.33 per month)

The $1,395.33 value is the average monthly benefit for disability insurance as of January 2024.

Social Security Administration

Prescription Drug Benefits other than Part D (e.g. SPAP)

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes due to the variety of programs and uncertainty in values.

n/a

Tax Benefits (e.g. Property Tax Relief, EITC, CTC)

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes due to the variety of programs and uncertainty in values.

n/a

Veteran's Benefits (Aid & Attendance, VA Disability Compensation, VA Pension, etc.)

$15,630 (per year)

The $15,630 value is the median annual benefit for adults 65 and older with income from veterans benefits in 2022.

Pension Rights Center

Housing Subsidies (e.g. Public Housing, Section 8, Rent Subsidies)

$11,868 (per year; $989 per month)

Across all subsidized housing programs, HUD spending averaged $989 per unit per month in 2023.

US HUD

Lifeline

$111 (per year; $9.25 per month)

Currently, the Lifeline phone/internet benefit provides up to a $9.25 monthly discount on service for eligible low-income subscribers and up to $34.25 per month for eligible subscribers on Tribal lands. The $9.25 value was used to provide a conservative national estimate.

FCC

Public Assistance (TANF, TTANF, BIA General Assistance)

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes. There are good sources for maximum benefit values by state for various family types, but a national average benefit value is not available.

n/a

Unemployment Insurance

$6,417.45 (per average duration of 14.62 weeks at $438.95 per week)

For the U.S., the 12-month average weekly benefit amount for the month ending 12/31/24 was $438.95. The 12-month average of the duration in weeks from the same month was 14.62. These values were from the “Monthly Program and Financial Data” report on the U.S. Department of Labor’s website on May 9,2025. Values on the website could change due to updates in state reporting.

DOL ETA

Subsidized Transit Benefits

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes. These benefits vary greatly depending on the municipality, region, or transit provider, and the values beneficiaries receive depend on the type of transit and frequency of use.

n/a

Home Internet (e.g., Access from AT&T)

none

CEW decided no value for BECs due to the variety of programs. The Affordable Connectivity Program stopped receiving applications in early February 2024.

n/a

Other Home Benefits (e.g., Weatherization, Section 504 Home Repair, FEMA)

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes due to the variety of programs and uncertainty in values.

n/a

Other Food Benefits (e.g., WIC, TEFAP, Free School Lunch, FDPIR)

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes due to the variety of programs and uncertainty in values.

n/a

General Other Benefits

none

CEW decided no value for BEC purposes due to the variety of programs and uncertainty in values.

 n/a