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What Is Considered Low Income for Seniors in Tennessee?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Low-income seniors in Tennessee are those with total incomes that fall within the federal poverty guidelines, which is $13,590 per year in 2022. Income is referred to as money received from all sources. Many benefit programs require seniors to meet asset limits and other eligibility requirements pertaining to age, citizenship and residency status.
Long-Term Care Financial Assistance for Low-Income Seniors in Tennessee
Medicaid helps low-income seniors pay for home health care in Tennessee. To be eligible, seniors must be permanent residents of Tennessee, citizens of the United States and 65 years of age or older, and they must fall within 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Statewide Waiver program pays for things like medical care at home, including skilled nursing, medication administration, therapy, care for chronic conditions, IV therapy and wound care.
Cost of Living and Income
The income in an area primarily determinates the cost of living. In Tennessee, the cost of living for the state is approximately 10% lower than the national average. The average income for Tennessee residents is just under $28,000 per year, which is about $3,000 less than the national average. Low-income seniors may find Tennessee more affordable than states with a higher cost of living.