Benefits · Nutrition
How to apply for Senior Connection Center Senior Meals + ADRC Services (Manatee)
Senior Connection Center, Inc. (SCC) — Area Agency on Aging + ADRC for PSA 6 (Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Highlands, Hardee)
Who it's for
Senior Connection Center, Inc. (SCC) is the nonprofit Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center designated by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs for Planning and Service Area 6 — covering Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Highlands, and Hardee counties. SCC has served older adults and people with disabilities in this five-county region for more than 40 years. For Manatee residents, SCC coordinates Older Americans Act Title III nutrition through contracted local meal providers: congregate dining at senior centers across Bradenton, Palmetto, Ellenton, and surrounding communities, and home-delivered Meals on Wheels for seniors who cannot prepare meals or attend a congregate site. The Manatee County Human Services Aging Section also operates as a parallel intake point within the county government, complementing SCC's PSA 6 coordination. The SCC Elder Helpline at 1-800-336-2226 is the integrated entry point for the full PSA 6 senior service portfolio — calling triggers a phone-based needs assessment by SCC's Long-Term Care team. Eligibility is age 60+ and Manatee residency for congregate meals; home-delivered additionally requires functional documentation of homebound status or inability to prepare meals.
Congregate meals require only age 60+ and Manatee residency — call the SCC Elder Helpline at 1-800-336-2226 to be referred to a Manatee meal site. Home-delivered meals additionally require documented homebound status or inability to prepare meals — an SCC case manager makes that determination through a phone-based assessment, and most service categories operate a prioritized client list (waitlist). There is no income or asset test for OAA services, but participants are offered the option to contribute voluntarily based on means; no one is denied for inability to pay. The Manatee County Human Services Aging Section also operates as a parallel entry point within county government — for some Manatee residents, calling the county directly at (941) 749-3030 can be a useful alternative path to SCC's intake.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, or birth certificate)
- Proof of Manatee County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- For home-delivered meals: documentation supporting homebound status or functional inability to prepare meals (typically a physician's note or SCC case manager assessment)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 1-800-336-2226
Renewals
annual reassessment by SCC case manager
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.