What charities help seniors with money?

What this means

• National charity websites usually route you back to a local branch anyway, so starting local saves days.
• Charities pay bills, not people. Expect them to send a check to the landlord or the utility company after they verify the bill.
• Funds run on a monthly cycle. If a charity says the money is gone, ask what day of the month they reopen and call that morning.

What to do first

1. Dial 211 and ask for community action agencies and faith-based emergency funds in your county, then write down three names and call all three.
2. Ask your local Area Agency on Aging what senior-specific funds exist, since some are only for people over 60 and are less crowded.
3. For medical costs specifically, ask about hospital charity care and copay foundations instead of general charities, because those funds are much larger.
4. If a charity cannot help, ask them directly: "Who else in this county has money for this?" Caseworkers know the current landscape.

What you'll need

• The actual bill with the account number and the amount owed
• Photo identification and proof that you live at that address
• Proof of income for the last 30 days
• A brief explanation of the hardship

Where to go

• Dial 211 or https://www.211.org/ — say "emergency financial assistance" and your county.
• Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx — for help that is set aside specifically for people over 60.