7 Things Florida Gives Residents Over 65 That Go Unclaimed

Turning 65 in Florida can come with perks you have to ask for.

Some are state programs and some are local options, and it’s easy for them to go unclaimed.

Here’s what Floridians over 65 may be able to claim, and who to ask.

Note: This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Program rules, age cutoffs and dollar amounts are subject to change.

1. Fishing and Hunting Licenses

Florida exempts residents 65 and older from the recreational hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing licenses.

The exemption covers permits too.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) lists snook, spiny lobster, deer, turkey and waterfowl permits in the same exemption.

You need proof of age or residency, such as a valid Florida driver license or ID card.

You can also pick up the optional Resident 65+ Hunt/Fish Certificate at no cost, either online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or at a county tax collector’s office.

Many older anglers still pay for a license they don’t need.

2. Senior Homestead Exemptions

Under Section 196.075, Florida lets a county or city give homeowners 65 and older an extra homestead exemption of up to $50,000.

It’s a local option, so your county or city has to adopt it by ordinance before you can claim it.

You have to own the home, live in it as your permanent residence, be 65 or older and fall under an income limit.

Many eligible homeowners skip it.

Check your county first.

What the Income Limit Means

The statute behind Florida’s senior homestead exemption sets a household income limit of $20,000.

Florida adjusts that limit every January 1 by the change in the average cost-of-living index.

So the limit you face this year may not be $20,000.

Household income means the adjusted gross income of everyone in your household, as the federal tax code defines it.

The first time you claim the exemption, you have to give the property appraiser a sworn statement of household income by March 1.

It goes on a form that the Department of Revenue prescribes.

3. Senior Legal Helpline

The Senior Legal Helpline gives eligible Florida residents 60 and older free civil legal advice and brief services over the telephone.

You can call 1-888-895-7873 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

The helpline covers consumer problems, housing, family law, probate, advance directives, Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, elder abuse and relative caregiver issues.

It can’t handle criminal, traffic or personal injury issues.

If you need a lawyer in court, the helpline says it helps you find legal resources in your community.

The helpline is a program of Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs helps fund it.

4. SHINE Medicare Counseling

Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, or SHINE, gives you help with your Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging offer the program.

Specially trained volunteers provide one-on-one counseling.

The program says its services are free, unbiased and confidential.

Psst! How much do you know about Florida homeowner rules? See if you can ace it.

Quiz

Florida Homeowner IQ

Answer these questions on Florida property taxes, insurance and housing rules. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?

Question 1 of 8

You miss the March 1 homestead exemption deadline in Florida. How long can you still file?

5. Community Care for the Elderly

Florida's Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) program gives residents 60 and older services such as adult day care, home-delivered meals and homemaker help.

The services also include personal care, respite, transportation and emergency home repair.

To qualify, you have to be 60 or older and functionally impaired, as an initial comprehensive assessment determines.

The assessment repeats every year.

Your local Aging and Disability Resource Center can give you more information about the program in your area.

So can the Elder Helpline.

6. Energy Crisis Help

Florida gives low-income households with at least one person 60 and older help through its Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP).

The program is for households facing a home energy emergency.

Your age and income aren't the only tests.

If your household fits, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs says to contact FloridaCommerce by email for information or an application.

7. College Tuition Waivers

State universities and Florida College System institutions may waive application, tuition and related fees for residents 60 and older who attend classes.

The law says may, not must, so each school decides whether to offer the waiver.

The waiver applies only on a space-available basis, which means the class isn't full when registration closes.

Students who pay full fees get priority for a seat.

You won't earn academic credit for those classes.

Call the school's admissions office before you register to find out whether it offers the waiver.

The 25-Year Senior Exemption

Section 196.075 also lets a county or city give homeowners 65 and older a second, bigger exemption, covering the entire assessed value of the home instead of $50,000.

A county or city adopts it by a vote of a majority plus one of its governing body.

Your home needs a just value under $250,000, which is the price it would sell for on the open market.

You also have to have lived there as your permanent residence for at least 25 years.

The same income limit applies to this version.

Programs That Start at 60

The Census Bureau's 22.8 percent counts only residents 65 and older.

Four of the programs above start at 60.

Those four are the Senior Legal Helpline, Community Care for the Elderly, EHEAP and the college tuition waiver.

So you may qualify before you reach 65.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs says nearly 6.5 million Florida residents are age 60 and older.

One Number to Call

Florida residents can call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) for information about elder services.

Save it in your phone.

The department provides community-based care through partnerships with 11 Area Agencies on Aging, which it also calls Aging and Disability Resource Centers.

The department's Community Care for the Elderly page sends you to that same line.

The Florida Public Service Commission's guide to utility assistance sends you to the same number for the extra eligibility rules on emergency energy help.