Senior benefits in Rio Grande County, Colorado
Seniors in Rio Grande County, Colorado, have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with everyday costs, health care, housing, and more. South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. (San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging) is the local starting point for many services, including transportation vouchers that help residents get where they need to go. Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte offers financial assistance for qualifying patients, and the Rio Grande County Department of Social Services handles local intake for LEAP, the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. At the state level, programs like Health First Colorado, the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Credit (PTC) Rebate, the Senior Property Tax Exemption, and the Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-Income Seniors may be available to eligible residents. Dozens of federal programs also apply here. This page lists each program with its official source and the date it was last verified. The sponsoring agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
4
Local programs
12
Colorado programs
25
Federal programs
16
Categories
Last verified · October 3, 2026
Local starting point
South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. (San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging)
1-719-589-4511
See which of these Rio Grande County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Rio Grande County benefits checklist — free to hand out.
When benefit rules change, it’s tracked here
Income limits, new requirements, how to apply — see what’s changed across senior benefit programs, from the official source in plain English.
Programs run in Rio Grande County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Rio Grande County. Start here.
Elder Services in Rio Grande County
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. (San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging)) — Rio Grande
County · ColoradoSouth-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. is the Area Agency on Aging for the San Luis Valley, including Rio Grande County. It helps adults 60 and over (and disabled adults 18 and over who live with an eligible adult) keep living on their own at home — meals, homemaker and respite help, Medicare counseling, and long-term care ombudsman help. Services have no set cost and are not income-based; an assessment is needed first. Call 719-589-4511 to get started.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Rio Grande County
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,000 a year.
LEAP energy assistance intake (Rio Grande County Department of Social Services) — Rio Grande
County · ColoradoColorado's Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) helps pay part of winter heating costs. Residents of Rio Grande County can get a LEAP application or help applying from the Rio Grande County Department of Social Services, which serves both Rio Grande and Mineral counties from its Del Norte office. Call 719-657-3381, or apply online through Colorado PEAK.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,000 a year
Healthcare in Rio Grande County
Hospital Financial Assistance (Rio Grande Hospital (Del Norte)) — Rio Grande
County · ColoradoUninsured and underinsured residents of Rio Grande County can apply for financial assistance (charity care) at Rio Grande Hospital (Del Norte) for emergency and medically necessary care. Free or discounted care is based on household income and size. The hospital offers a sliding fee scale, Hospital Discounted Care, and Medicaid application help. Its Public Benefits Advocates can help at 719-657-4063.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Rio Grande County
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Transportation vouchers (South-Central Colorado Seniors, San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging) — Rio Grande
County · ColoradoThe San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging does not run its own buses, but it can issue consumer-directed transportation vouchers: an older adult who needs rides in a private vehicle (for example, from a family member or friend) can have the driver's mileage reimbursed at the agency's current rate. Call the Administration Office at 719-589-4511 to ask about eligibility.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Rio Grande County
Who runs the county programs above, and how to reach them. Every line comes from a program record on this page — nothing is added that the catalog does not cite.
Rio Grande County Department of Social Services
Runs: LEAP energy assistance intake (Rio Grande County Department of Social Services)
Rio Grande Hospital (Del Norte)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (Rio Grande Hospital (Del Norte))
South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. (San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (South-Central Colorado Seniors, Inc. (San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging)), Transportation vouchers (South-Central Colorado Seniors, San Luis Valley Area Agency on Aging)
Colorado and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Rio Grande County and across the rest of Colorado. Full details are on the Colorado benefits page.
Cash Assistance
- Old Age Pension (OAP) cash assistanceState · Colorado$600–$12,384/yrCashOfficial source →
Elder Services
- Colorado SHIP — free Medicare counselingState · Colorado$100–$2,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrCashOfficial source →
Energy Assistance
- Energy Outreach Colorado — Bill Payment Assistance for past-due heating and electric billsState · ColoradoOfficial source →
- LEAP — Low-income Energy Assistance ProgramState · Colorado$200–$1,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrCashOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrCashOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)State · Colorado$300–$3,500/yrCashOfficial source →
Health Coverage
- Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for people 65+, blind, or disabledState · Colorado$2,000–$15,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Colorado Dental Health Care Program for Low-Income SeniorsState · Colorado$300–$2,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrCashOfficial source →
Long Term Care
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyFederal$6,000–$40,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) Waiver — home and community-based servicesState · Colorado$5,000–$30,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federalabout $2,435/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federalabout $2,435/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI-1)State · Colorado$2,100–$5,200/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federal$0–$1,125/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Property Tax Deferral Program (seniors and active military)State · Colorado$500–$3,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Property Tax/Rent/Heat Credit (PTC) RebateState · Colorado$100–$1,178/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Senior Property Tax Exemption (Homestead Exemption)State · Colorado$300–$900/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrCashOfficial source →
Nearby counties
Local programs differ from one county to the next. If you live near a county line, or you are helping a parent who lives in one of these, it is worth checking there too.
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.