Benefits · Emergency Aid
How to apply for DCHHS Older Adult Services Program — Case Management + Emergency Aid
Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) — Older Adult Services Program; a Dallas County Commissioners Court department; provides case management, emergency financial assistance, and senior-specific community services for low-income Dallas County residents age 60+
Who it's for
The Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) Older Adult Services Program is the county-level senior safety net providing case management, emergency financial assistance, and senior-specific community services for low-income Dallas County residents age 60 and older. Services typically include: (1) case management for navigating multiple senior benefits and services; (2) emergency rental and utility assistance for households facing imminent eviction or service disconnection (functioning as a Dallas County equivalent of EHEAP — Texas has no formal state EHEAP); (3) referrals to Dallas County's broader safety-net resources (DCHHS CEAP, DCHHS Adult Protective Services coordination, food and housing referrals); (4) coordination with Dallas Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) and The Senior Source for comprehensive senior care planning. Apply by calling DCHHS at 214-819-1848 or visiting the DCHHS Adult Services page at dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/human-services/adult-svcs.php. The Older Adult Services Program supplements (does not replace) the broader Texas state Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and federal Medicaid-funded long-term services — DCHHS Older Adult Services is the LOCAL safety-net layer for seniors who don't yet qualify for Medicaid LTSS or who need short-term emergency aid.
DCHHS Older Adult Services is APPROPRIATIONS-LIMITED — Dallas County Commissioners Court sets the annual funding level, and funds can exhaust mid-fiscal-year. The program is genuinely a safety-net layer, not a guaranteed entitlement — case management capacity may have waitlists during high-demand periods. The 200% FPL income gate is the conservative editorial modeling — actual DCHHS sliding-scale thresholds may vary. For Dallas County seniors needing ONGOING long-term services and supports (in-home personal care, adult day care), the pathway is STAR+PLUS Medicaid (see state-level tx.star_plus) — DCHHS Older Adult Services is short-term emergency-only. Senior-headed households facing imminent service disconnection should also call DCHHS CEAP (tx.dallas.dchhs_ceap) first — DCHHS coordinates the two programs to maximize household benefit.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 60+ (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, Medicare card, or birth certificate)
- Proof of all household income for the prior 30-60 days (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter)
- Proof of Dallas County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
- Photo identification
- For emergency rental/utility assistance: shutoff notice OR eviction notice OR documentation of imminent housing/service loss
- Documentation of household members and ages
- Social Security number for the applicant
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 214-819-1848
Renewals
appropriations-limited; emergency benefit availability varies by fiscal year
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.