25 Winter Money Tricks Seniors Living Alone Use to Cut Every Bill (Before November)

Twenty-five winter money tricks for seniors living alone, from the ceiling fan switch most people never touch to the heating help line in every state, the Medicare window that closes December 7, and the one fee you should never pay anyone. Most cost nothing. Every number comes from a named agency or organization. SOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO National Council on Aging, as reported on the Social Security Administration blog (May 2024): about $30 billion in benefits left unclaimed by eligible older adults each year; Extra Help worth about $5,300 a year per recipient (Social Security estimate); about 2 million eligible people not enrolled in Extra Help; nearly half of eligible people not enrolled in SNAP; average 2020 SNAP benefit for an older adult living alone about $105 a month; BenefitsCheckUp covers more than 2,000 programs National Institutes of Health / National Institute on Aging — Hypothermia: keep homes at 68 to 70 degrees or warmer in winter U.S. Department of Energy (as cited by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services) — save as much as 10% a year on heating by turning the thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day ENERGY STAR (EPA) — Why Seal and Insulate: about 15% savings on heating and cooling costs on average ENERGY STAR — Ceiling fans: in winter, run at low speed, clockwise U.S. Department of Energy — Weatherization Assistance Program fact sheet 2023: about $372 average annual savings per household U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families — LIHEAP; National Energy Assistance Referral line 1-866-674-6327; EnergyHelp.us; LIHEAP never charges fees U.S. Department of Energy — LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs U.S. Department of Energy Energy Saver — standby power: 5% to 10% of residential energy use, up to about $100 a year ENERGY STAR, as reported by WCNC — heating water uses about 90% of a washing machine's energy U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — water heaters at 120°F Federal Communications Commission — Lifeline program, one discount per household Medicare — open enrollment October 15 to December 7; Medicare Plan Finder; 1-800-MEDICARE PAN Foundation — Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,000 in 2025, $2,100 in 2026; Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as reported by HousingWire — 2026 standard Part B premium: $202.90 a month AARP — Auto insurance discounts: insurers must offer a discount for approved classroom driver safety courses in 33 states and Washington, D.C. HHS Fraud Hotline — 1-800-447-8477 ABOUT THIS VIDEO After 60, Wisely is narrated by Harold with a synthetic voice. Stories in this video are composite examples, with details changed. This is educational content, not financial, legal, tax or medical advice. Program rules, income limits and amounts change and vary by state; please confirm with the agency, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or a licensed professional. New videos Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Stay home. Stay yourself. #medicare #winter #savemoney #lifeafter70