There are definitely some financial benefits to getting older. Supermarkets, drugstores, restaurant chains, and retail outlets offer senior discounts. And it doesn't stop there. All 50 states give seniors unique opportunities to save money on taxes, transportation, and recreational activities.
- No state income tax on Social Security or payments from defined-benefit plans
- Tuition waivers at all community colleges (60 and older)
- Reduced fare on city buses in Montgomery and Birmingham
- No hunting or fishing license required (65 and older)
- Discounts on yearly passes to state parks (62 and older)
- No state income tax
- No state sales tax
- Municipal exemptions for the first $150,000 in property value (homeowners 65 and older)
- Tuition waivers at University of Alaska locations; low-cost lifelong learning program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- No sales tax on electricity, water, sewer, or food in most towns
- Free hunting, sport fishing, or trapping and no stamp required to hunt waterfowl or fish for king salmon (60 and older)
- Fee waivers for car registration
- Discounted passage on all intra-Alaska ferry sailings
- No tax on Social Security income
- No estate tax
- 50 percent of tuition waived at Maricopa Community Colleges (65 and older)
- Reduced fares on public transit in Yuma County, Tucson, and Phoenix, among other areas; reduced fares on shuttles, taxis, or Dial-a-Ride in some areas
- No tax on Social Security benefits or the first $6,000 of retirement income
- Tuition waivers at public colleges and universities (60 and older)
- Transportation services as cheap as 60 cents a ride for people who cannot drive, including those in wheelchairs
- Deeply discounted ($10.50) lifetime hunting and fishing licenses (65 and older)
- Discounts up to 50 percent on camping and facility fees at state parks (62 and older)
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- No tax on Social Security income
- Tuition waiver for regular classes at California State University facilities (60 and older)
- Senior discounts for almost all public transit systems (eligibility ages vary)
- $1 discount on parking and $2 discount on camping at all 280 state parks (62 and older); free entry for low-income seniors with a Golden Bear Pass at state parks where vehicle fees are collected
- Reduced fee for lifetime hunting and fishing license (62 and older)
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- No state taxes on pension and Social Security income up to $20,000 (ages 55-64) and $24,000 (65 and older)
- Property tax exemption up to 50 percent of the first $200,000 of the value of a residence
- Low- or no-cost classes for audit at Colorado State University, University of Colorado Denver, and University of Colorado Boulder
- $70 Aspen Leaf Pass for unlimited access to state parks for one year (64 and older)
- Free or low-cost transportation in many municipalities
- No tax on Social Security income for single filers with federal adjusted gross income under $50,000 and joint filers with income up to $60,000
- Property tax relief up to $1,000 for single seniors with income under $35,300, and up to $1,250 for joint filers with income under $43,000
- Tuition waived for all classes at all state colleges and universities, including degree programs
- Reduced transit fares for anyone with a Medicare card
- No fee for hunting and fishing licenses; access to special trails, lands, and waters (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security, and up to $12,500 of pension or retirement income (60 and older) is exempt
- Tuition-free degree program at University of Delaware (60 and older)
- 50 percent fare discount in taxis with certification and free door-to-door transportation through many senior centers
- No hunting license or waterfowl stamp required and no fishing license needed (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security income
- Undergraduate course auditing for $50 at Georgetown University (65 and older)
- Discounted SmarTrip card for all Washington Metro train and buses (65 and older)
- No state income tax
- Homestead exemptions up to $50,000 (65 and older)
- Tuition waivers for non-credit classes at Florida state colleges (60 and older)
- No hunting or fishing license required
- Half-price camping (65 and older)
- Free public transportation for Miami-Dade residents (65 and older); transportation resources in each county
- No state tax on Social Security and up to $65,000 of retirement income per person (65 and older) and $35,000 (ages 62-64) per person
- No estate tax
- Free classes for credit or audit at any Georgia public college (62 and older)
- Discounted public transportation in Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah (65 and older); paratransit and shuttle services available in other areas
- No fee for hunting or fishing licenses
- Half-price state park passes (62 and older)
- No tax on Social Security or income derived from employer contributions to pension and profit-sharing programs
- Increased property-tax exemptions for senior homeowners and the lowest property tax rate (0.27%) of any state
- Free class auditing through the Senior Citizen Visitors Program at certain University of Hawaii and state community colleges
- $1 bus fare with a Medicare card or senior card in Honolulu, Kauai, and other municipalities
- No tax on Social Security income
- Free non-credit classes at the College of Southern Idaho (60 and older); $5 per credit hour at Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College
- Property tax circuit-breaker discount of up to $1,320 for low-income seniors (65 and older)
- Reduced fare on buses, coupons for taxi rides, and paratransit for the disabled in Boise and its suburbs; transportation to medical appointments, senior centers, recreational locations, and adult day-care facilities through the Idaho Commission on Aging
- Reduced-cost licenses and tags for hunting and fishing (65 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security and all income from federally qualified retirement plans, as well as capital gains on employer securities
- Free classes for credit at Illinois public institutions (65 and older)
- Reduced fare on Chicago public transportation and paratransit with a permit; free shuttles (handicap buses are available) with stops at supermarkets
- Reduced-price camping (62 and older)
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses
- Reduced license plate fees
- No state tax on Social Security income
- No estate tax
- 50 percent reimbursement for up to nine credits a semester at Indiana University (60 and older)
- Taxi discounts, wheelchair services, and rides to essential services in most counties
- $3 annual fishing permit or $17 lifetime fishing permit available (residents 64 and older)
- 50 percent off annual pass to state parks (residents 65 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security income, and exemption of other retirement income of up to $6,000 for individuals, or $12,000 for joint filers (55 and older)
- Tuition waived for one for-credit course per semester at Des Moines Area Community College (residents 62 and older); similar opportunities at other community colleges
- No fee for hunting or fishing licenses for low-income seniors (65 and older)
- Half-fare cards for Des Moines Area Regional Transit (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security income with federal adjusted gross income under $75,000
- No estate tax
- No tuition or fees to audit courses at state institutions (residents 60 and older)
- Transportation help from numerous senior centers throughout the state for those who cannot get around on their own; $3 paratransit services in Kansas City
- Reduced vehicle fees at state parks
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses
- No state tax on Social Security benefits and a retirement income exemption up to $31,110 for most taxpayers
- Tuition waiver at any state institution (residents 60 and older)
- 75-cent fares for Medicare cardholders through the Louisville area's transit authority (65 and older); 50 cents for Lexington public transportation (62 and older)
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses (65 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security income and up to $6,000 of pension and annuity income (65 and older)
- Free tuition and 50 percent off books for residents registered at any state college or university (55 and older)
- 40 cents to $1 a ride on New Orleans public transportation and $2 for paratransit (65 and older)
- No state sales tax on food, drugs, wheelchairs, and prosthetic devices
- $5 hunting and fishing license (60 and older)
- Free admission to state parks (62 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security income and up to $10,000 of retirement income
- Free undergraduate classes for credit or audit through the University of Maine system (65 and older)
- Generally half off public transportation throughout Maine (starting at 60 in some places)
- $8 hunting and fishing license (70 and older)
- Free admission to state parks (for residents 65 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security income and most retirement income up to $29,900 (not from an IRA or Keogh plan)
- Tuition waivers at colleges or universities in the Maryland state system (retired residents 60 and older)
- Reduced fares on Maryland public transit (65 and older)
- $5 consolidated fishing license that allows fishing in inland, tidal, and coastal waters (65 and older)
- Free access to state parks with a $10 Golden Age pass (62 and older)
- No state taxes on Social Security income
- Some tuition waivers and discounts (60 and older)
- Reduced fares for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Administration services and other regional transportation systems
- Free hunting, fishing, and trapping permits (70 and older); free saltwater fishing permit (60 and older)
- $10 lifetime state park pass (residents 62 and older)
- No state tax on Social Security and varying amounts of other retirement income
- Free tuition at Northern Michigan University and Western Michigan University (residents 62 and older)
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses (65 and older)
- 50-cent bus rides in Detroit; reduced fares in other areas
- Tuition waived for for-credit courses at all state colleges (residents 62 and older)
- $1 bus rides in Minneapolis/St. Paul during non-rush hours (otherwise full fare); paratransit for $1.50 or $3, depending on time of day, in Duluth
- Discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses (51 and older)
- No tax on Social Security, pensions, annuities, and other retirement income
- No state sales tax on prescription drugs and health-care services
- Tuition waived for two courses a semester at Mississippi State University (retirees 60 and older); one course per semester through a lifelong learning program at the University of Mississippi (65 and older)
- Free transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and senior centers in the Gulfport-Biloxi area through Coast Transit Authority (60 and older); reduced bus fares on Jackson's transit system (60 and older)
- Reduced fishing, boat launch, and camping fees at state parks (65 and older)
- Senior-exempt hunting and freshwater fishing license $2.30
- Tuition exemption at all state-supported institutions (residents 65 and older)
- Deeply discounted (age 60 to 64) or free (65 and older) lifetime hunting and fishing permit
- $2 discount on camping fees (65 and older)
- Half-price transportation on St. Louis buses and trains with a Medicare card (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security with income less than $25,000, or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly; exemption for up to $4,110 of pension income
- Tuition waiver for the Montana University System (residents 65 and older)
- Free entrance and free or discounted camping at state parks
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses (residents 62 and older)
- Half-price land-use permits (residents 60 and older)
- More than half off bus fare in Billings (62 and older)
- No tax on Social Security with adjusted joint income under $58,000, or $43,000 for individuals
- Tuition waivers for individual schools: one audited class at Chadron State College, (residents 65 and older); 65 percent discount on for-credit classes at Mid-Plains Community College (62 and older)
- $5 annual hunting-fishing licenses (residents 69 and older)
- Discounted bus fare in Lincoln (62 and older); $3.50 door-to-door service for people with mobility issues
- No state income tax
- Free fall and spring classes and 50 percent off summer classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (residents 62 and older)
- $30 annual permit for state park entry, camping, and boat launching (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced-fee hunting/fishing license (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced fares on Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada buses (60 and older)
- Taxes on dividend and interest income only
- Free state park admission (residents 65 and older)
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses (residents 68 and older)
- Tuition waived for a maximum of two for-credit courses per academic year at the University of New Hampshire (65 and older)
- Half fare on Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation buses, Manchester Transit Authority buses, and Concord trolleys and buses (65 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security income; and hefty exemptions on other retirement income if total income is $100,000 or less (62 and older)
- Tuition waivers at public colleges (65 and older); no charge to audit classes in the spring and fall at Rutgers
- Half fare on all public transit throughout the state (62 and older)
- Free entrance and parking at any park forest, beach, or historic site, and a $2 discount on camping (residents 62 and older)
- Reduced license fees for fishing and clamming (residents 65 to 69); no fees or stamps required (70 and older); reduced hunting license fees (residents 65 and older)
- Tax exemption for up to $8,000 if income is less than $51,000 if filing jointly and $28,500 if filing individually (residents 65 and older); exemption of 100% of income (residents 100 and older)
- $5 per credit at public educational institutions, with a limit of six credits per semester (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced-fee fishing licenses (65-69); free fishing licenses (residents 70 and older); some reduced-fee hunting licenses (65 and older)
- $100 annual camping pass (62 and older)
- Reduced fares and specials on Rio Metro buses and trains; free New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter express train rides on Wednesdays (62 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security income; exemption for pension or annuity income up to $20,000 (after age 59.5)
- Tuition-free classes at City University of New York schools and many State University of New York schools, while a new state program now offers for-credit, tuition-free classes to students based on income
- Half-price New York City MetroCards (65 and older); reduced fare on Long Island railroad, Metro North trains, and most bus systems throughout the state
- Free weekday vehicle parking at state parks, boat launches, and arboretums, as well as reduced fees at golf courses, through New York's Golden Park program (residents 62 and older)
- $5 hunting and fishing licenses (70 and older)
Related: 30 Signs You're a New Yorker
- No state income tax on Social Security
- No estate tax
- Free auditing of classes at North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina
- Discounted bus fares in Fayetteville, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Greensboro, and most regional buses
- Steeply discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses
- Reduced entrance fees at state parks (62 and older)
- Property tax abatement with income less than $42,000 and assets less than $500,000 (65 and older)
- Tuition waived at many educational institutions (65 and older)
- Free rides on Bismarck buses and free paratransit (60 and older)
- $5 fishing license (65 and older)
- $28 annual vehicle pass for all state parks (residents 65 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security benefits; annual tax credit for those receiving retirement income with adjusted gross income under $100,000
- Tuition-free classes (which do not earn credit) at state schools (residents 60 and older)
- Reduced fares on buses throughout the state with a Medicare card
- Reduced-cost hunting and fishing licenses (66 and older); free licenses for anyone born before 1938
- Golden Buckeye discount for camping and lodges (60 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security and up to $10,000 of retirement benefits from private pensions
- No estate tax
- Free auditing of classes at Oklahoma state colleges and universities (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced fares on Oklahoma City transit (60 and older) and in Tulsa (62 and older)
- $2 discount at campsites (62 and older)
- $25 lifetime hunting/fishing license (65 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security; exemption for some retirement income, depending on total income
- No tuition for auditing classes at Oregon State University and the University of Oregon (65 and older)
- Reduced-cost hunting and fishing licenses (residents 70 and older)
- Reduced bus fare in Salem for Medicare cardholders and anyone 60 and older; half fare on Portland's TriMet system (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security income or retirement benefits from employers or pension plans
- Tuition waivers vary by school: very low fees to attend classes for credit or audit at Penn State (60 and older); no charge to audit classes at Clarion University (62 and older) or the University of Scranton (60 and older)
- Free rides on some transit lines (65 and older) and steep discounts on others
- Reduced-cost lifetime hunting/fur taker licenses (65 and older)
- Reduced fees at state park camping facilities and swimming pools (62 and older)
- No state income tax for Social Security with adjusted gross income under $100,000 for married couples or $80,000 for individuals
- Tuition waivers at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and Community College of Rhode Island (residents 60 and older)
- Free hunting and freshwater fishing licenses (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced fares on Rhode Island Public Transportation for low-income seniors (65 and older)
- No tax on Social Security income; $15,000 deduction on other retirement income (65 and older)
- Tuition-free classes at South Carolina state schools, audited or for credit (60 and older)
- No jury duty
- Discounted bus fares in Charleston and Spartanburg; reduced fares for other bus routes throughout the state
- $9 lifetime hunting and fishing license (residents 64 and older); free for seniors born prior to July 1, 1940.
- No state income tax
- No estate tax
- 45 percent off tuition at public universities (residents 65 and older)
- Half fare on Rapid City trolleys and buses (residents 60 and older); half off Sioux Falls and Pierre transit services
- $12 fishing licenses (residents 65 and older)
- Only dividends and interest income are subject to state taxes; no state tax on income under $37,000, or $68,000 for joint filers (residents 65 and older)
- Tuition waived for for-credit courses at state colleges, universities, and community colleges (65 and older)
- Steeply discounted fares on Knoxville, Nashville, Kingsport, and Memphis transit services (65 and older)
- Greatly reduced rates for annual and lifetime hunting and fishing licenses (residents 65 and older)
- Discounted state park fees for campsites, inns, meals, beach parking, and some golf courses (62 and older)
- No state income tax
- No estate tax
- Tuition-free for-credit courses at any state undergraduate or graduate institution, with a maximum of six credit hours per semester (residents 65 and older)
- Discounted public transit throughout the state (age of eligibility may vary)
- Discounted state park fees (residents 65 and older)
- $7 hunting licenses (65 and older); $32 hunting/fishing/saltwater fishing/archery combo licenses
- Partial tax credit for Social Security income; $450 retirement credit (retirees 65 and older)
- Tuition waived for enrollment at state institutions of higher education (residents 62 and older)
- Half off most public transportation (65 and older)
- Discounted hunting and fishing licenses (residents 65 and older)
- Reduced fees for state parks (62 and older)
- Half-price tuition for up to two classes per semester at any Vermont state school (60 and older)
- Free hunting and fishing licenses (residents 70 and older)
- $2 Green Mountain Passport for free entrance to state parks for life (62 and older)
- Reduced fares on some Green Mountain Transit commuter routes (60 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security; up $12,000 deduction on other retirement income (depending on age and income)
- Educational opportunities vary by institution; generally tuition is waived to audit classes (60 and older)
- Reduced fare on all public transit throughout Virginia with a Medicare card (65 and older)
- $20 lifetime hunting and fishing license (65 and older); no saltwater fishing license required
- Discounted prices on Naturally Yours Passports covering admission and parking at state parks, boat launches, and equestrian facilities
- No state income tax
- Property tax exemption, which varies by income (61 and older)
- Tuition waived — with some limitations — at colleges and universities in Washington (60 and older)
- Discounts on goods and services throughout Seattle with Gold Card for Healthy Aging (60 and older). Deals include free dog and cat licenses, free or discounted admission to attractions, and 10 percent off auto repair and towing.
- Half fare on ferries (65 and older); reduced fare on buses throughout the state for anyone with a Medicare card
- Reduced fishing license fees (70 and older)
- $75 annual passes for off-season camping and moorage at state parks (residents 62 and older); free with income less than $40,000
- $8,000 income tax deduction for most seniors 65 and older
- Reduced tuition at West Virginia state colleges (residents 65 and older)
- Free or low-cost rides on bus routes throughout the state (age limits vary)
- $25 lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping license (65 and older)
- 10 percent off all lodging at state parks (60 and older)
- No state income tax on Social Security benefits; up to $5,000 deduction for retirement plan income with federal adjusted gross income under $15,000, or $30,000 for married couples (65 and older)
- Tuition-free auditing at University of Wisconsin System campuses (residents 60 and older)
- Half-price fares on Madison's Metro Transit and reduced fares on Milwaukee's transit system (65 and older); generally half off other public transport throughout the state
- $13 annual parking sticker for state parks (65 and older)
- $7 general fishing license
- No state income tax
- Tuition waived at the University of Wyoming (65 and older)
- Free Pioneer Fishing, Bird and Conservation Stamp License with residence in Wyoming for at least 30 years (65 and older)
- Public transport services from many senior centers, usually by donation; half off fixed-route bus services for Medicare cardholders; $1.50 donation requested in Cheyenne (60 and older)
