Senior benefits in Santa Cruz County, California

Every California county is served by an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and an Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) — a single point of contact that connects older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities in Santa Cruz County to in-home supportive services, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, family-caregiver support, benefits and insurance counseling (HICAP), and California's Medi-Cal home- and community-based long-term-care programs. Services are for adults 60 and older, with priority for those in greatest need. Call the Santa Cruz County Area Agency on Aging directly at 1-831-688-0400, or reach the statewide Aging & Disability Resource Connection at 1-800-510-2020 to be connected to local services.

Estimated service value: $500–$6,000 a year

California's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households pay home heating and cooling bills, with one-time crisis help when service is past due or shut off. It is funded federally and run statewide by the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD). In Santa Cruz County it is delivered by Central Coast Energy Services. Households generally qualify at or below 60% of the state median income; older adults and people with disabilities are prioritized. Payments usually go straight to the utility company. Apply online at CaLIHEAPApply or through your local provider.

Estimated bill savings: $94–$1,500 a year

Hospitals serving Santa Cruz County — including Dignity Health Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Watsonville Community Hospital — must provide financial assistance under California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act. Uninsured patients (and insured patients with high medical costs) with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for charity care or discounted payment; many nonprofit systems give fully free care at lower income levels (for example, Dignity Health provides free care up to 250% of the poverty level). Eligible patients are never charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Ask any hospital's financial-counseling or billing office for its Financial Assistance Policy and application; the state's HCAI publishes every hospital's policy.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$20,000 a year

Santa Cruz County General Assistance (GA) is a county-funded program for low- or no-income adults who are residents of Santa Cruz County and have no other means of support. It is designed to help eligible adults meet basic needs for housing, utilities, personal needs, and transportation. For a low-income senior it is mainly a bridge while a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) claim is pending. To qualify, you must be a lawful resident of California and Santa Cruz County, and you must apply for other available income as a condition of eligibility. Aid is paid as a monthly cash payment by warrant, direct deposit, EBT, vendor payment, or two-party check. Apply online at www.benefitscal.com/ApplyForBenefits, by calling the Benefits Call Center at 1-888-421-8080, or in person at the Customer Services Centers — 1020 Emeline Avenue in Santa Cruz or 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville.

In this county: Santa Cruz County GA has conditions this check cannot confirm for you: you must be a Santa Cruz County resident, a lawful CA resident, low- or no-income with no other means of support, and you must apply for any other available income as a condition of eligibility. The santacruzhumanservices.org GA page does not publish a maximum monthly grant amount. Apply at BenefitsCal, by Benefits Call Center 1-888-421-8080, or in person at 1020 Emeline Avenue Santa Cruz or 500 Westridge Drive Watsonville.

Santa Cruz METRO is the public bus operator for Santa Cruz County. Riders 65 and older qualify for the Senior / Disabled Discount Card, which provides discounted fares on METRO fixed-route service and the same discount on ParaCruz paratransit. Eligible riders include those age 65-79, ADA-certified riders, and Medicare cardholders. Apply for the Senior/Disabled Discount Card by visiting the METRO Customer Service office at 603 Front Street, Santa Cruz (METRO Customer Experience Center), with proof of age; for questions call 1-831-425-8600.

Estimated service value: $200–$500 a year

METRO ParaCruz is Santa Cruz METRO's ADA complementary paratransit service — accessible door-to-door shared rides for people who cannot use METRO fixed-route buses due to a physical, cognitive, or psychiatric disability. Eligibility is functional and certified to ADA standards: unrestricted (if you can never use fixed-route buses) or restricted trip-by-trip (if you can use fixed-route for some trips). The application process includes an in-person interview, and METRO provides service during the assessment period if a decision is not made within 21 calendar days. Base ParaCruz fare is $4 per trip. To apply, call ADAride at 1-877-232-7433 (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.); for general ParaCruz questions call 1-831-425-4664.

In this county: ParaCruz eligibility is functional (physical/cognitive/psychiatric disability that prevents use of METRO fixed-route service) and requires an in-person ADA interview — this check cannot perform that assessment. METRO provides service during the assessment if a decision is not made within 21 days. Start by calling 1-877-232-7433 (ADAride) or 1-831-425-4664 (ParaCruz).