Key Takeaways

  • NCOA is opening this grant opportunity to organizations wishing to become a Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC).

  • The goal of the BEC program is to promote lasting transformations to the ways older adults and adults living with disabilities are assisted with enrolling in and retaining the benefits they are eligible for.  

  • NCOA will award grants between $25,000 and $250,000 for a 19-month period; applications are due Oct. 5, 2023.

Since 2009, the Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) program has promoted lasting transformations to the ways low-income Medicare beneficiaries are assisted with enrolling in and retaining the benefits they are eligible for.  

The NCOA Center for Benefits Access (the Center), under a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), is soliciting applications for  grants for a 19-month period (Jan. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025) to selected organizations who wish to implement the BEC approach in their community. BECs use person-centered strategies in a coordinated, community-wide approach to find and enroll Medicare beneficiaries—both older adults age 65+ and adults living with disabilities—who have limited income and resources to access available benefits.

Special consideration will be given to agencies serving areas that are not currently served by a BEC and agencies that are focused on serving people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequity. These groups include people who identify as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and other people of color, as well as members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals; people with disabilities; people who live in rural areas; and people otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality, and those with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Funding Opportunity Description 

The primary focus of the grant is to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with enrollment into the following five core benefit programs: 

  • Medicare Part D Extra Help (or Low-Income Subsidy, LIS) 
  • Medicare Savings Program (MSP) 
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) 
  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 
  • Medicaid 

Organizations eligible to apply for BEC grants include state or community-based nonprofit organizations, state government agencies, tribal entities, and faith-based organizations addressing the needs of older adults and younger adults with disabilities. Grants ranging from $25,000 up to $250,000 each will be awarded to selected organizations.  

Organizations must be able to provide application assistance for Medicare beneficiaries for at least one of the five core benefits for which they are eligible during the 19-month period. Grantees are encouraged to assist clients with applications for programs beyond the five core benefits, in keeping with the principles of the person-centered approach. 

Find Out More

Scroll to the bottom of this page to download the full Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP includes an outline of application questions and scoring criteria.

An informational webinar was held on Sept. 5 to provide guidance and answer questions about this opportunity. See below for a recording of this event and download the slides here.  

 

Questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions document.  Or reach out to centerforbenefits@ncoa.org. 

How to Apply for the BEC Grant

Applications must be submitted using the online application form listed in the RFP.

Proposals are due by 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 

If you require assistance using the online form, please contact NCOA’s Center for Benefits Access at centerforbenefits@ncoa.org. 

Learn how to create your application profile with this short video tutorial: