Benefit programs in Utah (2026)
For families in Utah we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
For some of Utah's own programs below we already have a vetted maximum from the official source. Those show "Up to $X/year". For programs without a vetted cap, we describe the program and link its official page while we finish computed-depth verification. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Utah families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 9 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. Utah has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors, the Renter's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 2, worth up to $1,412 a year. Utah 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 Utah Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Utah runs 9 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "UT Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver (0292.R06.00)" and "UT Community Supports Waiver for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Other Related Conditions (0158.R08.00)". 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 Utah Medicaid.
- UT Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver (0292.R06.00)
- UT Community Supports Waiver for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Other Related Conditions (0158.R08.00)
- UT Community Transitions Waiver (1666.R01.00)
- UT Limited Supports Waiver (1886.R01.00)
- UT Medically Complex Children’s Waiver (1246.R02.00)
- UT New Choices Waiver (0439.R04.00)
- UT Physical Disabilities Waiver (0331.R06.00)
- UT Waiver for Individuals Age 65 or Older (0247.R07.00)
- UT Waiver for Technology Dependent, Medically Fragile Individuals (40183.R06.00)
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Utah?
Utah has a confirmed property-tax relief program for seniors: the Renter's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 2. Refund of up to $1,412, based on household income and a percentage of rent paid. 2025 sliding scale: $1,412 (income $0-$15,033) down to $262 (income $39,797-$44,221). That figure is confirmed against Utah's own official page (last checked 2026-08-05). Utah runs 6 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 and ask which apply to you.
8 programs in Utah. 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 | Vetted maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Residential Exemption (UCA 59-2-103; Utah Const. Art. XIII sec. 3) GOV | 45% of the fair market value of a primary residence plus up to one acre of land is exempt; the home is taxed on only 55% of its fair market value. Limited to one residential exemption per household; residence must be occupied as a primary domicile at least 183 consecutive days. | Official source → | |
| Renter's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 2 GOV VERIFIED | Refund of up to $1,412, based on household income and a percentage of rent paid. 2025 sliding scale: $1,412 (income $0-$15,033) down to $262 (income $39,797-$44,221). | Up to $1,412/year. Income limit: 2025 household income less than $44,221. Tax year 2025. Utah State Tax Commission → | Official source → |
| Homeowner's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 3 GOV VERIFIED | Up to $1,412 of property tax abated based on income (same 2025 income-tier scale as the renter's credit), PLUS an additional credit equal to the tax on 20% of the home's fair market value. Homeowner applies with the county by September 1. | Up to $1,412/year. Income limit: 2025 household income less than $44,221. Tax year 2025. May also include an additional credit based on home value. Utah State Tax Commission → | Official source → |
| Low-Income Abatement (Indigent Abatement) GOV VERIFIED | Abatement of 50% of the current-year total property tax, or a maximum of $1,412, whichever is less. County-administered; applied on the primary residence. | Official source → | |
| Property Tax Deferral (Senior Deferral Program) GOV VERIFIED | Defers payment of current-year property taxes; deferred taxes accrue interest at half the normal rate and become a lien repaid on sale/transfer. Requires primary single-family residence, property value at or below the county median OR owned 20+ continuous years, no delinquent taxes, and mortgage/trust-deed holder approval. (Note: the $88,442 income cap = 2x the circuit-breaker limit; this deferral is what some non-official sources mislabel a 'CB75+' program.) | Official source → | |
| Veteran with a Disability Property Tax Exemption GOV VERIFIED | Exempts up to $535,459 of the taxable value of the veteran's primary residence or tangible personal property (2025), prorated by the veteran's service-connected disability percentage (100% disability = full $535,459; a lesser percentage receives that proportion; unemployability rating counts as 100%). | Official source → | |
| Active or Reserve Duty Armed Forces Exemption GOV | Exempts 100% of the taxable value of the claimant's primary residence. Must apply by September 1 following the qualifying service year. | Official source → | |
| Blind Exemption GOV VERIFIED | Exempts up to $11,500 of the taxable value of real and tangible personal property. No income or age requirement. | Official source → |
Primary Residential Exemption (UCA 59-2-103; Utah Const. Art. XIII sec. 3) GOV
- Benefit
45% of the fair market value of a primary residence plus up to one acre of land is exempt; the home is taxed on only 55% of its fair market value. Limited to one residential exemption per household; residence must be occupied as a primary domicile at least 183 consecutive days.
- Official source
- Official source →
Renter's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 2 GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Refund of up to $1,412, based on household income and a percentage of rent paid. 2025 sliding scale: $1,412 (income $0-$15,033) down to $262 (income $39,797-$44,221).
- Vetted maximum
Up to $1,412/year. Income limit: 2025 household income less than $44,221. Tax year 2025. Utah State Tax Commission →
- Official source
- Official source →
Homeowner's Credit (Circuit Breaker) - UCA Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 3 GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Up to $1,412 of property tax abated based on income (same 2025 income-tier scale as the renter's credit), PLUS an additional credit equal to the tax on 20% of the home's fair market value. Homeowner applies with the county by September 1.
- Vetted maximum
Up to $1,412/year. Income limit: 2025 household income less than $44,221. Tax year 2025. May also include an additional credit based on home value. Utah State Tax Commission →
- Official source
- Official source →
Low-Income Abatement (Indigent Abatement) GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Abatement of 50% of the current-year total property tax, or a maximum of $1,412, whichever is less. County-administered; applied on the primary residence.
- Official source
- Official source →
Property Tax Deferral (Senior Deferral Program) GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Defers payment of current-year property taxes; deferred taxes accrue interest at half the normal rate and become a lien repaid on sale/transfer. Requires primary single-family residence, property value at or below the county median OR owned 20+ continuous years, no delinquent taxes, and mortgage/trust-deed holder approval. (Note: the $88,442 income cap = 2x the circuit-breaker limit; this deferral is what some non-official sources mislabel a 'CB75+' program.)
- Official source
- Official source →
Veteran with a Disability Property Tax Exemption GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Exempts up to $535,459 of the taxable value of the veteran's primary residence or tangible personal property (2025), prorated by the veteran's service-connected disability percentage (100% disability = full $535,459; a lesser percentage receives that proportion; unemployability rating counts as 100%).
- Official source
- Official source →
Active or Reserve Duty Armed Forces Exemption GOV
- Benefit
Exempts 100% of the taxable value of the claimant's primary residence. Must apply by September 1 following the qualifying service year.
- Official source
- Official source →
Blind Exemption GOV VERIFIED
- Benefit
Exempts up to $11,500 of the taxable value of real and tangible personal property. No income or age requirement.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Utah?
Up to $800 toward heating and cooling bills combined. That is the FY 2026 maximum Utah'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 $1,500 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Utah.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 Utah the published maximum for heating and cooling combined is $800. Crisis maximum: $1,500. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Utah: Utah has a flat individual income tax (4.5% for 2025) and includes federally-taxable Social Security benefits in taxable income, but provides a nonrefundable Social Security Benefits Credit (TC-40A code AH) equal to the tax on those benefits (4.5% of taxable SS). The credit fully offsets the tax for filers with modified AGI at or below the 2025 thresholds and phases out at 2.5% of MAGI above them: $54,000 single, $45,000 married filing separately, $90,000 married filing jointly and head of household/qualifying surviving spouse. Below the threshold, Social Security is effectively untaxed; above it, benefits become taxed on a sliding scale. Thresholds were raised for 2025 (from $45,000 single
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: Pension, IRA, and 401(k) distributions are fully taxable at Utah's flat 4.5% rate; there is no general pension/retirement-income exclusion. Instead, two credits apply: (1) Retirement Credit (TC-40A code 18): up to $450 per qualifying person for taxpayers born on or before December 31, 1952 (age 65+), phased out as MAGI rises; cannot be combined with the Social Security Benefits Credit or Military Retirement Credit. (2) Military Retirement Credit (code AJ): a nonrefundable credit equal to the Utah tax on military retirement pay, which effectively exempts military retirement income, available to retired service members and surviving spouses. A taxpayer may claim only one of these overlapping credits.
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Utah 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 Utah for help with elder care?
Call Adult Protective Services at 801-538-3567, or your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Utah doesn't list a public ADRC phone number here, so start with Adult Protective Services if someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited. They can also point you toward long-term-care options.
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.