Senior Living Apartments in Miami, FL

Personal income and savings are the primary ways most people pay for a senior apartment. However, there are other strategies to afford a senior apartment, such as using Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns. Learn how to use these and other private payment strategies to keep your Miami senior apartment within reach.

Florida has the third-highest population of veterans in the United States. While many veterans choose to live in Jacksonville, veterans living in Miami have access to a well-organized support system through the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs and other local programs. And senior Miami veterans can easily find community, as most veterans in Miami are over 55.

Using veterans benefits to pay for a senior apartment

The Aid and Attendance benefit is one of the more generous veterans benefits available. If you’re eligible for this benefit, you can use it to pay for anything that improves your quality of life, including monthly rent for a senior apartment. Eligibility for the Aid and Attendance benefit depends on a number of variables, so contact a veterans benefits counselor before applying.

Veterans benefits counseling in Miami

Applying for veterans benefits can be confusing. To help, we’ve compiled a list of veterans benefits counselors in Miami. These experts can help veterans and their family members apply for and understand their benefits. Contact these experts in and around Miami with any veterans benefits questions.

• The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA). Florida’s Veterans’ Affairs Department offers professional benefits counseling to veterans and their families. Counselors are employed by the department and offer virtual benefits counseling to veterans across Florida. You can call 727-319-7408 to set up a virtual appointment. Benefits counseling through the FDVA comes at no cost to veterans or their families.
• Miami-Dade County Veteran Services Program. Miami-Dade County offers veterans benefits counseling to local veterans and their families through the Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD). To set up an appointment, visit the nearest Veterans Service Center. You can find a list of Veterans Service Centers in Miami on the VA website. Benefits counseling through Miami-Dade County comes at no cost to veterans or their families.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars – Miami. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, a veterans service organization (or VSO), offers support and free benefits counseling to veterans living in Miami. You can sign up for membership at your local VFW post. Review the VFW: At a Glance brochure to learn more.

Neither Medicare nor Medicaid will cover the rent of a senior apartment in Miami. Both programs cover health-related expenses, and senior apartments don’t provide any care services covered by either program. However, it’s still important to understand what Medicaid and Medicare do and don’t cover so you can make informed decisions, regardless of where you’re living.

Florida Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program

Florida Medicaid provides health insurance to low-income state residents. The state’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) runs Florida Medicaid and offers two different insurance programs:

• Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) program. The MMA program is the most widely used Florida Medicaid program. It covers general health care expenses, such as hospital care, prescription drugs, immunizations, and hospitalization. The MMA program also covers transportation to and from certain appointments.
• Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) program. The SMMC LTC program covers both general health care expenses and long-term care services, such as personal care and monthly fees at an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. It may also cover some home care services. While the SMMC LTC program will cover long-term care, it won’t cover the rent of a senior apartment.

Florida Medicaid eligibility

Florida Medicaid is available to people who:

• Are residents of Florida
• Require health care services
• Make less than $18,075 a year before taxes, as of 2023 (this number is adjusted annually)

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Be 65 years or older
• Have a dependent
• Have severe vision impairment
• Have a disability
• Be pregnant

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for seniors

Medicare is run by the federal government and is for people over 65 years of age. If you’ve paid your Medicare taxes (or are married to someone who has) and are over 65, you’re eligible for Medicare coverage. Seniors are expected to pay a premium for Medicare insurance, as is common with other health insurance programs.

Medicare covers short-term and medically necessary health care expenses

Medicare is specific about what it does and doesn’t cover. In general, Medicare covers only short-term care and medically necessary health care expenses. For example, Medicare will cover the entire cost — including meals and all care services — of a short-term hospital stay for up to 20 days.

Whether or not a procedure, test, item, or medication is medically necessary depends on the individual. What’s medically necessary for one person may not be for another. Typically, your physician and a Medicare representative decide what services and resources are medically necessary. You can get a sense of what Medicare covers on the Medicare coverage portal.

Medicare Savings Programs can help cover your premiums

Miami seniors can use Medicare Savings Programs to cover some of their premiums. Seniors can find and sign up for these programs on the federal Medicare website. These programs are income-dependent, and seniors typically need to make under $1,549 a month in pretax income to be eligible, although this number is adjusted annually.

Medicaid and Medicare benefits counseling for Miami seniors

Local to Miami is the Alliance for Aging, Inc., which offers benefits counseling and support to local seniors. Another good resource is the Department of Elder Affairs for the State of Florida. Miami’s local SHINE program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), is another free program that provides benefits counseling through trained volunteers. All of these programs offer Medicaid and Medicare benefits counseling at no cost to seniors.

Finding affordable housing can be difficult in Miami, where the cost of living is 21% higher than the national average.^[01] Seniors who need help finding a place to live, paying rent, or getting proper nutrition can access a few different safety nets throughout Miami-Dade County.

Housing assistance in Miami-Dade County

Seniors seeking to use Section 8 housing vouchers to pay for their senior apartment should be aware that the vouchers only apply to certain Section 8-eligible housing developments. Miami-Dade County’s Section 8 program offers affordable housing to low- and very low-income people. There’s currently a waiting list to receive an affordable housing voucher. Where you place on the list is determined by age, disability, household size, and income.

Registration to get on the waiting list is occasionally closed. Open registration dates are published in the following newspapers: The Miami Herald, The Miami Times, Diario Las Americas, and Le Floridien.

Rent assistance in Miami-Dade County

The City of Miami runs an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. This program was open as of June 2023 and reviewing applications. Priority is determined by income, age, disability, and household size. You can begin the application process by calling 305-330-1508.

Food assistance in Miami-Dade County

Meals on Wheels is the primary food assistance program for seniors in Miami. Homebound seniors who are at least 60 years of age can receive free meals from their home, or seniors can opt to pick up their meals at senior centers throughout Miami. You can find locations and information about signing up at the Meals on Wheels webpage.

Social Security benefits for Miami seniors

Some Social Security benefits can be used to pay for rent. While Social Security benefits likely won’t cover the entire cost of a senior apartment in Miami, they can help. Seniors are eligible for Social Security based on a number of factors, such as work credits and having a disability.

One of the easiest ways to determine which Social Security benefits you’re eligible for is to take an eligibility quiz. You can also read the quick review of common Social Security benefits below.

• Social Security Retirement benefit (SSR). This benefit is for seniors who have paid Social Security taxes for more than 10 years. You can no longer apply for this benefit once you’re over 70.
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This benefit is for people who have paid their Social Security taxes for more than 10 years and have a qualifying disability.
• Social Security Survivor’s Pension. This benefit is for surviving spouses of seniors who have paid their Social Security taxes.