Benefit programs in Florida (2026)
For families in Florida we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
We don't put a dollar figure on most of Florida's own programs yet. Those amounts depend on rules we haven't finished checking against official sources. What you get instead is the program, its official source, and who to call. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Florida families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 4 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. Florida also has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors, the Homestead Exemption (basic). Its confirmed benefit is quoted in the program's own official wording further down this page. Florida also runs a LIHEAP energy-assistance program that covers heating and cooling costs together. Figures checked against official sources, last on 2026-08-05.
Does Florida Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Florida runs 4 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "FL Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver (0867.R03.00)" and "FL Familial Dysautonomia Waiver (40205.R04.00)". These pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have no confirmed dollar figure for what they pay. Amounts depend on an assessment, and most waivers have waiting lists. Ask Florida Medicaid, or call 1-800-96-ELDER.
- FL Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting Waiver (0867.R03.00)
- FL Familial Dysautonomia Waiver (40205.R04.00)
- FL Long-Term Care Waiver (0962.R02.00)
- FL Model Waiver (40166.R06.00)
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Florida?
Florida has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors: the Homestead Exemption (basic). Up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent residence: the first $25,000 is exempt from ALL property taxes (including school district taxes); a second exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and ONLY to non-school taxes. The second $25,000 portion is indexed annually to positive CPI beginning 2025 (Amendment 5, 2024); DOR's PT-113 illustration shows it rising to about $25,722 for 2025. That figure is confirmed against Florida's own official page (last checked 2026-08-05). Florida runs 9 property-tax relief programs that seniors may qualify for in total. See the full list below, or call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-96-ELDER and ask which apply to you.
15 programs in Florida. Each description below is drawn from its linked source and shown in full: the tag next to each name marks its source tier (GOV/GOV PDF: the program's own official page, ANALYSIS/IND: a secondary source).
Property-tax figures last checked against official sources on 2026-08-05. See how we verify figures.
| Program | Benefit | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead Exemption (basic) GOV PDF VERIFIED | Up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent residence: the first $25,000 is exempt from ALL property taxes (including school district taxes); a second exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and ONLY to non-school taxes. The second $25,000 portion is indexed annually to positive CPI beginning 2025 (Amendment 5, 2024); DOR's PT-113 illustration shows it rising to about $25,722 for 2025. | Official source → |
| Save Our Homes (SOH) Assessment Limitation GOV PDF | After the first year of homestead, the annual increase in a homestead's assessed (taxable) value is capped at 3% or the percent change in CPI, whichever is LESS. The accumulated gap between assessed value and just/market value is the SOH benefit. Benefit is portable to a new Florida homestead if a new homestead is established within 3 years (Form DR-501T). Per s. 193.155, F.S. | Official source → |
| Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (Low-Income Senior Exemption) GOV PDF VERIFIED | County/municipal local-option exemption of up to $50,000 of assessed value, applied ONLY to the county or city millage that adopts it (not to school or other taxing-unit millage). s. 196.075(2)(a), F.S. | Official source → |
| Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65+ with 25-Year Residency (Senior Long-Term Residency Exemption) GOV PDF VERIFIED | County/municipal local-option exemption equal to the FULL assessed value of the homestead (100% exemption from the adopting county/city millage). Available where the just value is less than $250,000 (as of the first year of eligibility) and the owner has maintained permanent residence there for at least 25 years. s. 196.075(2)(b), F.S. | Official source → |
| Homestead Property Tax Deferral GOV PDF VERIFIED | Homestead owners may defer the portion of combined ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments that EXCEEDS 5% of prior-year household income (if under age 65) or EXCEEDS 3% of prior-year household income (if age 65 or older). Taxes may be deferred in their ENTIRETY if prior-year household income is under $10,000, or if the applicant is 65+ and household income is below the s. 196.075 senior-exemption income limit. Deferred amounts become a lien on the property accruing interest at a rate set by DOR not to exceed 7%. Apply annually via Form DR-570 (county tax collector). s. 197.252, F.S. | Official source → |
| Widow/Widower Exemption ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED | $5,000 reduction in taxable value for a bona fide Florida resident who is a widow or widower (exemption lost upon remarriage). Increased from $500 to $5,000 effective for the 2023 tax roll. s. 196.202, F.S. | Official source → |
| Exemption for Blind Persons and Totally & Permanently Disabled Persons ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED | $5,000 reduction in taxable value for a bona fide Florida resident who is legally blind or totally and permanently disabled. Increased from $500 to $5,000 effective for the 2023 tax roll. s. 196.202, F.S. | Official source → |
| Total & Permanent Disability Exemption for Quadriplegics GOV PDF | FULL exemption from all ad valorem taxation on real estate used and owned as a homestead by a quadriplegic person (100% exemption; no income test for quadriplegics). s. 196.101(1), F.S. | Official source → |
| Total & Permanent Disability Exemption for Paraplegics/Hemiplegics/Wheelchair-Reliant/Legally Blind (income-limited) GOV PDF | FULL exemption from ad valorem taxation on the homestead for a paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally and permanently disabled person who must use a wheelchair for mobility, or who is legally blind, IF gross household income is below the annual limit. Requires certificate of total and permanent disability (Form DR-416/DR-416B). s. 196.101(4), F.S. | Official source → |
| Surviving Spouse of First Responder Killed in the Line of Duty Exemption GOV PDF | FULL exemption from ad valorem taxation on the homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty (both must have been permanent Florida residents on January 1 of the year the first responder died). s. 196.081(6), F.S. | Official source → |
| Disabled Veteran Exemption ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED | $5,000 reduction in assessed value for an ex-servicemember who was honorably discharged, is a Florida resident, and is disabled at least 10% by misfortune or while serving during wartime (VA-certified). NOT limited to homestead property. May carry over to the surviving spouse under certain circumstances. s. 196.24, F.S. | Official source → |
| Service-Connected Total & Permanent Disability Veteran Exemption GOV PDF | TOTAL (100%) exemption from ad valorem taxes on the homestead of a Florida-resident veteran honorably discharged with a service-connected total and permanent disability. A similar total exemption is available to disabled veterans confined to a wheelchair. May carry over to the surviving spouse under certain circumstances. ss. 196.081 and 196.091, F.S. | Official source → |
| Veteran 65+ Service-Connected Disability Discount GOV PDF | Percentage discount on the ad valorem tax (assessed value) of the homestead equal to the veteran's VA-rated PERMANENT service-connected disability percentage (e.g., a 40% disability rating yields a 40% tax discount). For honorably discharged veterans age 65+ who are partially or totally permanently disabled from a service-connected cause. Carries over to a surviving spouse who holds title, resides there, and has not remarried. s. 196.082, F.S. | Official source → |
| Deployed Servicemember Exemption GOV PDF | Homestead exemption for a PERCENTAGE of the taxable value equal to the percentage of the prior calendar year the servicemember was deployed outside the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii in support of a Florida-Legislature-designated operation. Available to members/former members of the U.S. military, reserves, Coast Guard, or Florida National Guard. Apply via Form DR-501M. s. 196.173, F.S. | Official source → |
| Parent/Grandparent Living Quarters ('Granny Flat') Assessment Reduction GOV PDF | County local-option reduction of a homestead's assessed value for the value added by constructing or reconstructing living quarters for a natural/adoptive parent or grandparent (of the owner or spouse) who is at least 62 years old. Per s. 193.703, F.S., the reduction is capped at the LESSER of the increase in just value from the construction or 20% of the property's total assessed value. (Note: PT-111 states 'a reduction'; the 20%/added-value cap is from statute s. 193.703, not restated in the brochure.) Apply via Form DR-501PGP. | Official source → |
Homestead Exemption (basic) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent residence: the first $25,000 is exempt from ALL property taxes (including school district taxes); a second exemption of up to $25,000 applies to assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and ONLY to non-school taxes. The second $25,000 portion is indexed annually to positive CPI beginning 2025 (Amendment 5, 2024); DOR's PT-113 illustration shows it rising to about $25,722 for 2025.
- Official source
- Official source →
Save Our Homes (SOH) Assessment Limitation GOV PDF
- Benefit
After the first year of homestead, the annual increase in a homestead's assessed (taxable) value is capped at 3% or the percent change in CPI, whichever is LESS. The accumulated gap between assessed value and just/market value is the SOH benefit. Benefit is portable to a new Florida homestead if a new homestead is established within 3 years (Form DR-501T). Per s. 193.155, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older (Low-Income Senior Exemption) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
County/municipal local-option exemption of up to $50,000 of assessed value, applied ONLY to the county or city millage that adopts it (not to school or other taxing-unit millage). s. 196.075(2)(a), F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Additional Homestead Exemption for Persons 65+ with 25-Year Residency (Senior Long-Term Residency Exemption) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
County/municipal local-option exemption equal to the FULL assessed value of the homestead (100% exemption from the adopting county/city millage). Available where the just value is less than $250,000 (as of the first year of eligibility) and the owner has maintained permanent residence there for at least 25 years. s. 196.075(2)(b), F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Homestead Property Tax Deferral GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
Homestead owners may defer the portion of combined ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments that EXCEEDS 5% of prior-year household income (if under age 65) or EXCEEDS 3% of prior-year household income (if age 65 or older). Taxes may be deferred in their ENTIRETY if prior-year household income is under $10,000, or if the applicant is 65+ and household income is below the s. 196.075 senior-exemption income limit. Deferred amounts become a lien on the property accruing interest at a rate set by DOR not to exceed 7%. Apply annually via Form DR-570 (county tax collector). s. 197.252, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Widow/Widower Exemption ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
$5,000 reduction in taxable value for a bona fide Florida resident who is a widow or widower (exemption lost upon remarriage). Increased from $500 to $5,000 effective for the 2023 tax roll. s. 196.202, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Exemption for Blind Persons and Totally & Permanently Disabled Persons ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
$5,000 reduction in taxable value for a bona fide Florida resident who is legally blind or totally and permanently disabled. Increased from $500 to $5,000 effective for the 2023 tax roll. s. 196.202, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Total & Permanent Disability Exemption for Quadriplegics GOV PDF
- Benefit
FULL exemption from all ad valorem taxation on real estate used and owned as a homestead by a quadriplegic person (100% exemption; no income test for quadriplegics). s. 196.101(1), F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Total & Permanent Disability Exemption for Paraplegics/Hemiplegics/Wheelchair-Reliant/Legally Blind (income-limited) GOV PDF
- Benefit
FULL exemption from ad valorem taxation on the homestead for a paraplegic, hemiplegic, or other totally and permanently disabled person who must use a wheelchair for mobility, or who is legally blind, IF gross household income is below the annual limit. Requires certificate of total and permanent disability (Form DR-416/DR-416B). s. 196.101(4), F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Surviving Spouse of First Responder Killed in the Line of Duty Exemption GOV PDF
- Benefit
FULL exemption from ad valorem taxation on the homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who died in the line of duty (both must have been permanent Florida residents on January 1 of the year the first responder died). s. 196.081(6), F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Disabled Veteran Exemption ($5,000) GOV PDF VERIFIED
- Benefit
$5,000 reduction in assessed value for an ex-servicemember who was honorably discharged, is a Florida resident, and is disabled at least 10% by misfortune or while serving during wartime (VA-certified). NOT limited to homestead property. May carry over to the surviving spouse under certain circumstances. s. 196.24, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Service-Connected Total & Permanent Disability Veteran Exemption GOV PDF
- Benefit
TOTAL (100%) exemption from ad valorem taxes on the homestead of a Florida-resident veteran honorably discharged with a service-connected total and permanent disability. A similar total exemption is available to disabled veterans confined to a wheelchair. May carry over to the surviving spouse under certain circumstances. ss. 196.081 and 196.091, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Veteran 65+ Service-Connected Disability Discount GOV PDF
- Benefit
Percentage discount on the ad valorem tax (assessed value) of the homestead equal to the veteran's VA-rated PERMANENT service-connected disability percentage (e.g., a 40% disability rating yields a 40% tax discount). For honorably discharged veterans age 65+ who are partially or totally permanently disabled from a service-connected cause. Carries over to a surviving spouse who holds title, resides there, and has not remarried. s. 196.082, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Deployed Servicemember Exemption GOV PDF
- Benefit
Homestead exemption for a PERCENTAGE of the taxable value equal to the percentage of the prior calendar year the servicemember was deployed outside the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii in support of a Florida-Legislature-designated operation. Available to members/former members of the U.S. military, reserves, Coast Guard, or Florida National Guard. Apply via Form DR-501M. s. 196.173, F.S.
- Official source
- Official source →
Parent/Grandparent Living Quarters ('Granny Flat') Assessment Reduction GOV PDF
- Benefit
County local-option reduction of a homestead's assessed value for the value added by constructing or reconstructing living quarters for a natural/adoptive parent or grandparent (of the owner or spouse) who is at least 62 years old. Per s. 193.703, F.S., the reduction is capped at the LESSER of the increase in just value from the construction or 20% of the property's total assessed value. (Note: PT-111 states 'a reduction'; the 20%/added-value cap is from statute s. 193.703, not restated in the brochure.) Apply via Form DR-501PGP.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Florida?
Up to $1,350 toward heating and cooling bills combined. That is the FY 2026 maximum Florida's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) publishes for heating and cooling combined. Most households get less. This is the ceiling, not a typical amount. A separate crisis benefit of up to $2,000 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Florida.htm
| Program | Benefit | Published maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Help with heating bills, plus emergency help if service is at risk. Covers heating and cooling combined. Emergency crisis help is available. | In Florida the published maximum for heating and cooling combined is $1,350. Crisis maximum: $2,000. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Florida: Florida does not tax Social Security benefits because it levies no personal income tax at all. There is no state tax on Social Security, pensions, or other retirement income for Florida residents.
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: Florida has NO state personal income tax (its imposition on natural persons is prohibited by the Florida Constitution). Consequently, pension income, IRA distributions, and 401(k) distributions are NOT taxed at the state level. No age-based or income-based exclusion exists or is needed because there is no state income tax to exclude from. (Florida also has no state estate, inheritance, gift, or intangibles tax.)
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Florida too
These are computed for every family, wherever they live.
VA Aid & Attendance
An extra monthly VA payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help.
Medicare Savings Programs
State help that pays your Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays.
Medicare Extra Help
Lowers what you pay for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
SNAP (food support)
Monthly money for groceries. Older adults often qualify for more than they expect.
Social Security & SSI
Checks whether the person may be missing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.
Federal tax credits
Credits and deductions families miss, including medical expenses and the credit for the elderly or disabled.
Medicare before 65
Medicare eligibility for people under 65 through a disability.
Who do I call in Florida for help with elder care?
Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-96-ELDER. They're the free, no-wrong-door starting point for home care, respite and other long-term-care options in Florida. If someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited, Adult Protective Services can help at 800-962-2873.
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) / No Wrong Door
Free help understanding your options.
1-800-96-ELDERCan Florida seniors freeze or defer their property taxes?
Yes. Florida lets eligible seniors freeze or defer their property taxes through "Homestead Property Tax Deferral". We don't have a single confirmed dollar figure for this mechanism. The amount depends on your tax bill, not a flat cap. See the property-tax table above for the program's own official wording.
Is there emergency help with heating bills in Florida?
Yes. Florida's LIHEAP program offers up to $2,000 in emergency crisis assistance if your heat or utility service is about to be shut off. That's separate from the regular heating-bill maximum described above and is meant for a true emergency, like a shutoff notice or an empty tank. See the LIHEAP source link above for how to apply.
Which of these fits your family?
Being on this list doesn't mean your family qualifies. That depends on income, savings, care needs and service history. The free check works out which ones are worth your time, in about four minutes.
Not legal or medical advice. Benefits vary. Figures are estimates.
Nearby states
Expanding Florida is one of the states we're currently deepening: more of its rules are being checked against official sources.