Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Illinois. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.
Start here (works anywhere in Illinois)
- 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local rent, utility, food, and medical help, 24/7
- Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, the federal front door to your Area Agency on Aging
- BenefitsCheckUp.org screens you for every benefit you may qualify for
- Medicare 1-800-633-4227 | Social Security 1-800-772-1213 | VA Benefits 1-800-827-1000
- Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900 | National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-372-8311 | Crisis Lifeline 988
Free Medicare counseling (Illinois SHIP)
Illinois keeps the national name: SHIP, the Senior Health Insurance Program, run by the Illinois Department on Aging with about 300 local offices statewide. Free, unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-252-8966. Online: ilaging.illinois.gov/ship. SHIP counselors do not sell insurance, ever.
Medicaid in Illinois
Illinois Medicaid is run by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Apply online through ABE, the Application for Benefits Eligibility, at abe.illinois.gov (the same portal handles SNAP and the Medicare Savings Program). For help with an application, call the ABE Help Line at 1-800-843-6154.
Prescription help
Illinois does not currently run a general statewide pharmaceutical assistance program for seniors. Start with Medicare's Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy (apply through Social Security, 1-800-772-1213) and screen at BenefitsCheckUp.org. SHIP counselors (1-800-252-8966) can walk you through Part D and Extra Help.
Energy and utility help
Illinois LIHEAP is administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and delivered through local community action agencies. Apply through helpillinoisfamilies.com or call 1-833-711-0374 for help with an application. The same network handles water bill help (LIHWAP) and free home weatherization.
Property tax relief (Illinois)
Illinois has several senior programs, all handled through your Chief County Assessment Office (in Cook County, the Cook County Assessor).
- Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (age 65+): reduces your home's equalized assessed value (EAV) by up to $8,000 in Cook County and the counties touching Cook, or $5,000 in all other counties. Some counties require annual renewal.
- Low-income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption ("Senior Freeze", age 65+): freezes your EAV at a base year so reassessments do not raise your taxable base. The income limit is $65,000 for taxable year 2025 (the bills payable in 2026); under Public Act 104-0452 it rises to $75,000 for 2026 (payable 2027), $77,000 for 2027, and $79,000 for 2028 and after. File Form PTAX-340 every year.
- Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program (age 65+): lets qualifying seniors defer all or part of their property taxes. Caution: this is a loan. The state places a lien on the home and the deferral plus interest is repaid when the home is sold or within a year of the owner's death. Maximum deferral is 80 percent of your equity. Apply through your county treasurer.
- Every homeowner also gets the General Homestead Exemption (up to $10,000 EAV in Cook, $8,000 in collar counties, $6,000 elsewhere).
Food, in-home help, caregiver, transportation, and legal help
The Illinois Department on Aging (ilaging.illinois.gov) funds 13 Area Agencies on Aging covering home-delivered meals, in-home care, caregiver support, and transportation. Find yours through the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) or 211. The Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (same number as SHIP) is the front door for most aging services. For free civil legal help, visit illinoislegalaid.org or ask 211 for your local legal aid office.
Frequently asked questions
What is Illinois' SHIP program? The Senior Health Insurance Program, run by the Illinois Department on Aging. Free Medicare counseling at 1-800-252-8966.
Does Illinois offer senior property tax relief? Yes, three main programs: the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (up to $8,000 EAV off in Cook and collar counties, $5,000 elsewhere), the Senior Freeze for lower-income seniors, and a tax deferral program that works like a loan against the home. Apply through your county assessment office.
How do Illinois seniors get help with heating bills? Through LIHEAP. Apply at helpillinoisfamilies.com or call 1-833-711-0374.
How do I apply for Illinois Medicaid? Online at abe.illinois.gov or call the ABE Help Line at 1-800-843-6154.
Sources
- Illinois Department on Aging, SHIP: https://ilaging.illinois.gov/ship.html . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Illinois HFS, applying for Medicaid / ABE: https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalclients/abebenefits.html and https://www.abe.illinois.gov/ . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Illinois DCEO, LIHEAP / Help Illinois Families: https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/howtoapply.html . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Revenue, PIO-74 Property Tax Relief (homestead exemptions, Senior Freeze, deferral): https://tax.illinois.gov/localgovernments/property/taxrelief.html . Verified June 4, 2026.