---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3030c–2"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3030c–2"
heading: "Consumer contributions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3030c-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 35 — Programs for Older Americans"
  - "Subchapter III — Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging"
  - "Part A — General Provisions"
---

# §3030c–2. Consumer contributions

- (a) **Cost sharing—**
  - (1) **In general—** Except as provided in paragraphs [(2)](#a-2) and [(3)](#a-3), a [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) is permitted to implement cost sharing for all services funded by this chapter by recipients of the services.
  - (2) **Exception—** The [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) is not permitted to implement the cost sharing described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) for the following services:
    - (A) Information and assistance, outreach, benefits counseling, or [case management services](/usc/42/3002.md?p=11).
    - (B) Ombudsman, [elder abuse](/usc/42/3002.md?p=15) prevention, [legal assistance](/usc/42/3002.md?p=33), or other consumer protection services.
    - (C) Congregate and home delivered meals.
    - (D) Any services delivered through [tribal organizations](/usc/42/3002.md?p=56).
  - (3) **Prohibitions—** A [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) or [tribal organization](/usc/42/3002.md?p=56) shall not permit the cost sharing described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) for any services delivered through [tribal organizations](/usc/42/3002.md?p=56). A [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall not permit cost sharing by a low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) [older individual](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) if the [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) of such individual is at or below the Federal [poverty line](/usc/42/3002.md?p=44). A [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) may exclude from cost sharing low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) individuals whose [incomes](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) are above the Federal [poverty line](/usc/42/3002.md?p=44). A [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall not consider any assets, savings, or other property owned by [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) when defining low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) individuals who are exempt from cost sharing, when creating a sliding scale for the cost sharing, or when seeking contributions from any [older individual](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40).
  - (4) **Payment rates—** If a [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) permits the cost sharing described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), such [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall establish a sliding scale, based solely on individual [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) and the cost of delivering services.
  - (5) **Requirements—** If a [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) permits the cost sharing described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), such [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall require each [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) in the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) to ensure that each service provider involved, and the [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6), will—
    - (A) protect the privacy and confidentiality of each [older individual](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) with respect to the declaration or nondeclaration of individual [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) and to any share of costs paid or unpaid by an individual;
    - (B) establish appropriate procedures to safeguard and account for cost share payments;
    - (C) use each collected cost share payment to expand the service for which such payment was given;
    - (D) not consider assets, savings, or other property owned by an [older individual](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) in determining whether cost sharing is permitted;
    - (E) not deny any service for which funds are received under this chapter for an [older individual](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) due to the [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) of such individual or such individual’s failure to make a cost sharing payment;
    - (F) determine the eligibility of [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) to cost share solely by a confidential declaration of [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) and with no requirement for verification; and
    - (G) widely distribute [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) created written materials in languages reflecting the reading abilities of [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) that describe the criteria for cost sharing, the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51)’s sliding scale, and the mandate described under [subparagraph (E)](#a-5-E).
  - (6) **Waiver—** An [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) may request a waiver to the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51)’s cost sharing policies, and the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall approve such a waiver if the [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) can adequately demonstrate that—
    - (A) a significant proportion of persons receiving services under this chapter subject to cost sharing in the [planning and service area](/usc/42/3002.md?p=43) have [incomes](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) below the threshold established in [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) policy; or
    - (B) cost sharing would be an unreasonable administrative or financial burden upon the [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6).
- (b) **Voluntary contributions—**
  - (1) **In general—** Voluntary contributions shall be allowed and may be solicited for all services for which funds are received under this chapter if the method of solicitation is noncoercive. Such contributions shall be encouraged for individuals whose self-declared [income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) is at or above 185 percent of the [poverty line](/usc/42/3002.md?p=44), at contribution levels based on the actual cost of services.
  - (2) **Local decision—** The [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) shall consult with the relevant service providers and [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) in [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)’s [planning and service area](/usc/42/3002.md?p=43) in a [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) to determine the best method for accepting voluntary contributions under this subsection.
  - (3) **Prohibited acts—** The [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) and service providers shall not means test for any service for which contributions are accepted or deny services to any individual who does not contribute to the cost of the service.
  - (4) **Required acts—** The [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) shall ensure that each service provider will—
    - (A) provide each recipient with an opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the cost of the service;
    - (B) clearly inform each recipient that there is no obligation to contribute and that the contribution is purely voluntary;
    - (C) protect the privacy and confidentiality of each recipient with respect to the recipient’s contribution or lack of contribution;
    - (D) establish appropriate procedures to safeguard and account for all contributions; and
    - (E) use all collected contributions to expand the service for which the contributions were given and to supplement (not supplant) funds received under this chapter.
- (c) **Participation—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) and area [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) on aging, in conducting public hearings on [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) and area plans, shall solicit the views of [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40), providers, and other stakeholders on implementation of cost-sharing in the service area or the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51).
  - (2) **Plans—** Prior to the implementation of cost sharing under [subsection (a)](#a), each [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) and [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6) shall develop plans that are designed to ensure that the participation of low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) (with particular attention to low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40), including low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) minority [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40), [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) with limited English proficiency, and [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) residing in rural areas) receiving services will not decrease with the implementation of the cost sharing under such subsection.
- (d) **Evaluation—** Not later than 1 year after November 13, 2000, and annually thereafter, the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/42/3002.md?p=7) shall conduct a comprehensive evaluation of [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for cost sharing to determine its impact on participation rates (with particular attention to low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40), including low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) minority [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40), [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) with limited English proficiency, and [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) residing in rural areas). If the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/42/3002.md?p=7) finds that there is a disparate impact upon low-[income](/usc/42/3056p.md?p=a-4) or minority [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) or [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) residing in rural areas in any [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) or region within the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) regarding the provision of services, the [Assistant Secretary](/usc/42/3002.md?p=7) shall take corrective action to assure that such services are provided to all [older individuals](/usc/42/3002.md?p=40) without regard to the cost sharing criteria.
- (e) **Response to area agencies on aging—**
  - (1) **In general—** Upon request from an [area agency on aging](/usc/42/3002.md?p=6), the [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) shall make available any policies or guidance pertaining to policies established under this section.
  - (2) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall require a [State](/usc/42/3002.md?p=51) to develop policies or guidance pertaining to policies established under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–73, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 106–501, title III, § 310, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2247; amended Pub. L. 109–365, title III, § 310, Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 116–131, title II, § 212, Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 258.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 106–501, § 310, which directed the addition of this section at the end of Part A of title III (42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.), was executed by adding this section at the end of Part A of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–131 added subsec. (e).

2006—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–365, § 310(1)(A), substituted “if” for “provided that” and inserted at end “Such contributions shall be encouraged for individuals whose self-declared income is at or above 185 percent of the poverty line, at contribution levels based on the actual cost of services.”

Subsec. (b)(4)(E). Pub. L. 109–365, § 310(1)(B), inserted “and to supplement (not supplant) funds received under this chapter” after “given”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 109–365, § 310(2), substituted “(with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas)” for “(with particular attention to low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas)”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–365, § 310(3), substituted “(with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas)” for “with particular attention to low-income and minority older individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas”.