Living on Social Security and Need Money in California

California Programs That Can Lower the Monthly Pressure

Several programs exist for older Californians with limited income. None of them replaces Social Security. Each one either adds income alongside it or takes a specific bill off the monthly budget. Each has its own rules, and the agency that runs it publishes the current limits.

SSI and SSP. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration. It adds monthly money for people with low income and limited resources. California adds its own State Supplementary Payment (SSP) on top of the federal SSI amount. In practice, this is the one program on the list that adds cash to the household each month rather than lowering a particular cost.

CalFresh. CalFresh is California's name for the federal food assistance program known as SNAP. It helps a household buy groceries. The California Department of Social Services oversees it. Because food is a cost that rises steadily, help here can free up part of the Social Security check for other bills.

LIHEAP. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps with heating, cooling and utility bills. California administers it at the state level. For a household that owns its home outright, utilities are often one of the few large monthly bills left, which is why this program can matter.

Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. It covers health costs for qualifying residents with low income. Health costs are often the least predictable part of a fixed-income budget, and coverage can make them steadier.

Medicare Savings Programs. These programs can help pay Medicare premiums. According to Medicare.gov, they might also pay Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments for someone who qualifies. People apply through their state, the income and resource limits go up each year, and some states do not count certain income or resources. For someone already on Medicare, this is help with costs that otherwise come out of the same fixed income.

IHSS. In-Home Supportive Services pays for help at home, such as personal care and housework, for qualifying seniors and people with disabilities. Its purpose is to help them stay safely at home. The California Department of Social Services administers it. For families, it can ease the strain of providing that care themselves.

BenefitsCal, California's online benefits portal, is one place to apply for and manage several of these programs together.

Property Tax Relief for California Homeowners

Property taxes can feel like rent on a house that is already paid for. California offers two kinds of relief, and they work very differently.

Property Tax Postponement. The State Controller's Property Tax Postponement Program lets homeowners who are seniors, blind or disabled defer current-year property taxes on their principal residence. To postpone means the taxes are not forgiven. They are deferred, and the program places a lien on the home that must eventually be repaid. For the 2026-27 application, the Controller lists criteria including at least 40 percent equity in the home and annual household income of $57,002 or less, among other requirements.

The state's fact sheet adds that a homeowner must be at least 62 years of age, or blind, or disabled, and must not have a reverse mortgage on the property. Interest on postponed taxes is 5 percent a year, computed monthly as simple interest, until all postponed taxes and interest are repaid. Funding is limited and given first come, first served, so not everyone who qualifies may be approved. Under Revenue and Taxation Code section 20583, the 40 percent equity requirement must be met each time a claim is filed. The Controller publishes the current application period.

Homeowners' Exemption. This is a separate program. Under Revenue and Taxation Code section 218, it is "seven thousand dollars ($7,000) of the full value of the dwelling" for an owner's principal residence. The Board of Equalization explains that the home must be the owner's principal residence on January 1, the claim is a one-time filing with the county assessor on form BOE-266, and a first-time filer has until February 15 to receive the full exemption for that year.

For a homeowner with a disability, the California Department of Rehabilitation is another resource for support services.

For a homeowner already stretched thin, even a partial reduction in property taxes can matter month to month.

Your Home Has Value: What the Equity Options Actually Mean

For a California homeowner on Social Security, the house is often the largest asset. There are several ways to borrow against it, and each comes with different conditions, costs and tradeoffs.

Home equity loan. This is a lump sum borrowed against the home. It is repaid in monthly installments with interest, and the home serves as collateral, the property that secures the debt.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC). A HELOC is a revolving credit line secured by the home. The owner draws money as needed up to a limit and repays what is drawn. The interest rate is often variable. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that either of these loans may be a cheaper way to borrow, but that they usually have monthly payments and depend on income and credit.

Cash-out refinance. This replaces the current mortgage with a larger one and pays out the difference. It brings a new monthly payment on the new loan.

Reverse mortgage (HECM). A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage is the federally insured reverse mortgage, and the CFPB describes it as a loan only for homeowners 62 and older. The borrower makes no monthly mortgage payments. Interest and fees are added to the loan balance each month, so the amount owed grows over time. The borrower must use the home as a principal residence, pay property taxes and homeowners insurance, and keep the house in good condition. The loan comes due when the last borrower dies, sells the home or moves out. The CFPB warns that a borrower who runs out of money for taxes, insurance or other housing costs could face foreclosure.

HUD says the amount available depends on the age of the youngest borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse, the current interest rate, and the lesser of the appraised value, the FHA mortgage limit or the sales price. Federal rules also limit the origination fee, and the lender discloses it. The Federal Trade Commission adds that a reverse mortgage increases debt and can use up much, or even all, of the equity.

A reverse mortgage is one option among several. It is a loan, not free money, a grant or a government benefit. The options also interact: the Controller's fact sheet, described above, lists not having a reverse mortgage among the requirements for property tax postponement. The broader set of ways to use home equity shows how they compare side by side.

Understanding what each option costs and requires is the clearest way to protect the home while meeting a real need.

Ways to Reduce Monthly Costs Without Borrowing

Not every answer involves borrowing. Some practical steps change how the house or the household is used.

Selling or downsizing. Selling frees the equity and can lower housing costs. A smaller or less expensive home may mean lower taxes, insurance and upkeep. The tradeoff is leaving a home that may hold decades of memories.

Renting a room or an ADU. An accessory dwelling unit, often called an ADU, is a second small home on the same lot. Renting a room or an ADU can bring in income without selling. California has rules about ADUs, and a local planning department can explain what applies to a particular property.

Help from family. Some families share costs, share a home, or help with specific bills. This can take many forms, and it works best when everyone understands the arrangement.

Food banks and community resources. The California Association of Food Banks and local food pantries can lower grocery costs. Using them is a practical choice, not a last resort.

A Note on Unsolicited Offers

Homeowners with equity and a tight budget are a common target for sales pitches. Whatever the option, offers of help deserve a careful look. The California Department of Real Estate warns seniors never to pay anyone for home loans or foreclosure relief before the work is done, and never to sign a power of attorney over property or money to someone they do not personally know and trust.

The same caution applies to any financing tied to the home that arrives through a door-to-door or phone pitch, including home-improvement financing sometimes marketed under the name PACE. Any arrangement that places a claim on the house is worth understanding fully, in writing, before anything is signed. Retirees whose home is already paid off face a related set of choices, described in money from a paid-off house.

A tight budget and a paid-off home can attract offers that deserve more scrutiny than they may appear to need.

Where to Check Current Eligibility

A person trying to help a parent often wants one phone number that answers everything. In practice, each program has its own office, and these are the official places to get current information for a specific situation. They are not steps to take in order.

BenefitsCal. California's benefits portal is a starting point for checking and applying for state and federal programs such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal.

California Department of Social Services. CDSS oversees IHSS, CalFresh and other state programs.

Social Security Administration. The SSA publishes the current federal rules for SSI.

State Controller's Office. The Controller handles Property Tax Postponement applications. Its office can be reached at (800) 952-5661.

County assessor. Each California county has its own assessor, and that office handles the Homeowners' Exemption claim.

HUD-approved housing counselor. Before a HECM can go forward, the FTC says the borrower must meet with a counselor from an independent, government-approved housing counseling agency. The counselor must explain the costs, the financial effects and the alternatives. HUD keeps a HECM Counselor Roster and a phone line, (800) 569-4287.

License checks. Under California law, as the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation explains, anyone in the business of making or servicing residential mortgage loans in California generally needs a license unless an exemption applies. Exempt entities include banks and licensed real estate brokers.