Dallas County, TX vs Broward County, FL

Texas's implementation of the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) through a statewide network of subrecipient agencies — Community Action Agencies, non-profits, and County BoCC departments — that collectively cover all 254 Texas counties. CEAP provides utility bill assistance, deposits, and energy crisis intervention (both summer cooling crisis and winter heating crisis) for low-income households. Eligibility is calculated at 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines — for 2026 that is $23,475/year for a single household and $45,600/year for a family of four. Senior-headed households receive application priority. To find the local subrecipient serving a specific Texas county, call TDHCA at 800-525-0657 or visit the TDHCA CEAP page. Each subrecipient has its own application window, document checklist, and operating hours; some operate appointment-only systems with limited weekly intake slots.

$200–$1,600/yr

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is the DIRECT TDHCA-contracted Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) subrecipient for Dallas County — a distinctive delivery model where a county BoCC health department (rather than a Community Action Agency or non-profit) administers CEAP locally. The program provides utility bill assistance, deposit assistance, and energy crisis assistance to low-income Dallas County households. Eligibility is set at 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines ($23,475/year single 2026). Senior-headed households receive application priority. Texas summer heat makes COOLING-CRISIS assistance especially relevant for Dallas County seniors — Dallas is in a Texas heat-mortality risk zone. Apply by calling DCHHS at 214-819-1848 or by downloading the application from dallascounty.org and mailing it to DCHHS at 2377 Stemmons Fwy, Suite 201LB-16, Dallas TX 75207. The BoCC-department CEAP delivery model in Dallas is structurally similar to Florida's BoCC-department LIHEAP delivery in Hendry, Glades, DeSoto, and Monroe counties — a county health department fills the role typically played by a separate Community Action Agency nonprofit.

$200–$1,600/yr

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.

$200–$2,500/yr

Texas Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (the MEPD handbook categories at HHSC) is the SSI-related Medicaid pathway for low-income Texans who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled and who do not require nursing home care. Eligibility is income-tested against the federal SSI Benefit Rate (FBR) — for 2026 the FBR is $967/month for an individual and $1,450/month for a couple — with a $2,000 countable-asset limit ($3,000 for a couple). Recipients who qualify for SSI cash benefits are automatically Medicaid-eligible in Texas; non-SSI applicants apply through HHSC. Medicaid covers physician visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, lab and X-ray, family planning, vision and hearing services, durable medical equipment, mental health care, and other services. For Texans who need long-term services and supports (in-home personal care, adult day care, home modifications) the pathway is STAR+PLUS (tx.star_plus). Apply at YourTexasBenefits.com, by calling 2-1-1, or by calling HHSC at 1-800-252-8263.

$4,000–$25,000/yr

STAR+PLUS is Texas Medicaid's managed-care program for adults age 65+ and adults with disabilities. It bundles full Medicaid medical coverage with long-term services and supports (LTSS) — the in-home personal care, adult day care, home modifications, personal emergency response systems, and respite care that keep older Texans out of nursing facilities. Members must first qualify for Texas Medicaid (typically via the tx.medicaid_abd pathway for non-LTSS members, or via the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver for members at risk of nursing-home placement). All STAR+PLUS members are assigned a service coordinator who arranges medical care and long-term services. The STAR+PLUS HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waiver expands Medicaid LTSS eligibility to people whose income exceeds the regular Medicaid limit but is below 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate ($2,901/month single 2026), provided they meet a nursing-facility level of care criterion. Apply through HHSC at YourTexasBenefits.com, by calling 2-1-1, or by calling HHSC at 1-800-252-8263. The STAR+PLUS HCBS waitlist (interest list) can have multi-year waits — apply early if Medicaid LTSS may be needed.

$6,000–$80,000/yr

Parkland Health & Hospital System is Dallas County's public hospital system — operating Parkland Memorial Hospital (a Level I trauma center and one of the largest hospitals in Texas), the Community Oriented Primary Care (COPC) network of 12+ neighborhood health centers across Dallas County, and the largest public hospital safety net in North Texas. The Parkland Financial Assistance Program (PFAP) provides care to uninsured and underinsured Dallas County residents on a two-tier income basis: (1) FULL FREE CARE for Dallas County residents at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level; and (2) an EXPANDED sliding-scale financial assistance policy for patients with balances greater than $1,500 whose documented income is between 201% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. The program covers primary care, specialty care, inpatient and outpatient hospital, emergency care, surgery, prescription drugs, behavioral health, and dental at all Parkland facilities. To apply, call the Parkland billing department at 214-590-8000 or visit the PFAP application page at parklandhealth.org. Determinations are typically made within 30 days. Parkland uses a more generous 200% FPL FULL-CARE threshold than peer public hospital systems (Harris Health uses 150% FPL).

$1,500–$60,000/yr

The Dallas Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for Dallas County under the Older Americans Act Title III. DAAA is operated by the Community Council of Greater Dallas — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella — rather than by a regional Council of Governments. Like Harris County's AAA, this is a nonprofit-housed delivery model rather than the regional-COG pattern that serves most of Texas. DAAA's Title III nutrition program serves approximately 200,000 meals annually at 17 senior congregate-meal centers across Dallas County (including the Brady Center, which offers a free home-cooked dietitian-approved lunch Monday-Friday to Dallas residents age 60+). Home-Delivered Meals are weekly meals delivered to homebound, elderly, or disabled adults age 60+. DAAA's Benefits Counseling Program is the Dallas-area State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provider — educating and assisting seniors and Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers on Medicare enrollment, Medicare Advantage options, prescription drug coverage, and Medicare Savings Programs. Additional services include legal assistance, transportation referrals, in-home services, and caregiver respite. Call DAAA at 214-871-5065 or visit ccadvance.org. The Senior Source (theseniorsource.org) is a separate, complementary 501(c)(3) serving Dallas seniors since 1961 with financial guidance and caregiving support.

$1,500–$5,000/yr

Texas seniors age 65 and older qualify for two stacked property tax benefits on their primary residence: (1) an additional $60,000 over-65 exemption from school district taxes that stacks on top of the base $140,000 homestead exemption, for a combined $200,000 reduction in the taxable value of the home for school district taxes; and (2) a SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX CEILING (commonly called the 'tax freeze') that locks the dollar amount of school district taxes at the level paid in the year the homeowner first qualified at age 65 — even if the home's value or the school tax rate rises in later years, the school tax bill cannot increase. The ceiling transfers proportionally if a senior moves to a new homestead. Counties, cities, and special districts MAY (but are not required to) adopt their own optional over-65 exemption (up to $10,000+) and their own tax ceiling — adoption rates and amounts vary statewide. Apply by April 30 with the county Appraisal District using Form 50-114 (Application for Residence Homestead Exemption), checking the 'Age 65 or Older' box and attaching proof of age. Late applications are accepted for up to TWO YEARS retroactively. No income test.

$600–$3,500/yr

DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) is the regional transit authority for Dallas County and 12 member cities in North Texas, operating one of the largest urban transit systems in the U.S. DART's Reduced Fare program offers discounted fares to seniors AGE 65 AND OLDER (with a valid DART Reduced Fare Photo ID), Medicare card holders of any age, and non-paratransit-certified persons with disabilities. To get the DART Reduced Fare Photo ID, present proof of age (Texas driver's license, Texas ID, birth certificate, or passport) at a DART Pass Outlet or the DART Store at Akard Station in downtown Dallas. DART Paratransit Service is an origin-to-destination, curb-to-curb public transportation service for people with disabilities who are unable to use DART fixed-route buses or trains. Certified DART Paratransit-eligible riders ride DART fixed-route bus and rail FOR FREE (with their valid DART Paratransit photo ID). Paratransit eligibility is ADA-based — being age 65+ does not automatically qualify a rider for DART Paratransit; functional inability to use fixed-route service is the standard. Apply for paratransit eligibility or get fare information by calling DART Customer Service at 214-979-1111 or DART Paratransit Eligibility at 214-828-6717.

$400–$3,000/yr

Florida Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled — commonly called MEDS-AD — is the state's comprehensive Medicaid coverage for low-income seniors 65 and older (and people who are blind or disabled at any age). It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, lab work, durable medical equipment, and community-based long-term care, and it works alongside Medicare to pay for what Medicare doesn't. Florida is a 1634 state, which means anyone who qualifies for federal SSI is automatically enrolled in Medicaid — no separate application is needed. Seniors who aren't on SSI can still qualify through the MEDS-AD pathway, which uses more generous income limits set at 88% of the federal poverty level (about $1,182/month for an individual or $1,596/month for a couple) with countable assets at or below $5,000 individual / $6,000 couple. Countable assets exclude the primary home and one vehicle. Seniors whose income is above the MEDS-AD limit may still qualify through Florida's Medically Needy 'share of cost' pathway, which lets you use unpaid medical expenses to reduce countable income below the standard each month.

$4,000–$12,000/yr

Broward Health is the public hospital system serving northern and central Broward County, operated by the North Broward Hospital District — a public taxing district created under Florida Statutes Chapter 154. The system includes Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Coral Springs, Broward Health Imperial Point, and a network of clinics. Broward Health's Financial Assistance Program covers emergency care and medically necessary services for patients who meet income and residency requirements. A patient whose family income is at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines receives full financial assistance after a nominal co-payment of $10, $25, or $50. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents and must have lived in the Broward Health service area for at least 30 days before the date of service, with limited exceptions for emergency-transport admissions. Patients are also required to first apply for any available coverage they could potentially qualify for (Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, Florida KidCare) before financial assistance is approved. Apply by gathering the documents on the Financial Assistance Checklist and meeting with a Broward Health financial counselor; the counselor will complete the application online with you. Call 954-767-5344 to start.

$500–$30,000/yr

Florida's Alzheimer's Disease Initiative is the state's dedicated program for adults living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (ADRD) and the family members who care for them. It pays for the kinds of services that keep a person with memory loss safely at home and that give caregivers a break: in-home respite, model adult day care designed for dementia, emergency respite when a caregiver is hospitalized, and extended respite of up to about 30 days. ADI also funds case management, specialized medical equipment and supplies, caregiver counseling and support groups, and caregiver training. Connected to the program is the state-funded network of 17 Memory Disorder Clinics across 13 service areas, which provide diagnostic evaluation, research participation, and follow-up care for people with suspected or confirmed ADRD. Eligibility is built around a probable ADRD diagnosis with cognitive impairment that affects daily living — not a strict income test — but a sliding-fee co-pay applies above a base income threshold, and most regions operate a waitlist managed by the local Area Agency on Aging. To apply, contact the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.

$2,400–$18,000/yr

Community Care for the Elderly is Florida's broadest state-funded in-home services program for functionally impaired seniors aged 60 and older who want to stay in their own home instead of moving to a facility. CCE is not Medicaid — it is funded by the state through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, which contracts with 11 Area Agencies on Aging and local Lead Agencies to deliver a wide menu of services. Eligible clients may receive case management, adult day care, adult day health care, personal care, homemaker and chore services, home-delivered meals, home health aide and home nursing, respite for family caregivers, emergency alert response systems, escort and shopping assistance, transportation, emergency home repair, consumable medical supplies, counseling, and other community-based supports. There is no rigid income or asset test, but most counties operate a waitlist and apply a sliding-fee co-payment scale once a participant's income rises above a base threshold — at or below roughly 150% of the Federal Poverty Level the participant typically pays nothing, and the co-pay rises in steps for higher-income participants. Priority for services goes to seniors referred by Adult Protective Services as victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, followed by those with the greatest functional impairment. Apply through the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.

$2,000–$15,000/yr

Home Care for the Elderly is a state-funded program that helps frail Florida seniors aged 60 and older stay in a private home with a non-spouse adult caregiver instead of moving to a nursing facility. Each enrolled participant receives a basic monthly subsidy of $160 paid to the caregiver to help offset the cost of food, household supplies, and personal care. The program can also authorize 'special subsidies' for specific needs — incontinence supplies, medications, medical and assistive devices, ramps and home accessibility modifications, nutritional supplements, home health aide visits, home nursing, and respite. To qualify, you must be at risk of nursing-home placement, have monthly income at or below the Institutional Care Program (ICP) standard (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate — about $2,901 a month for 2026), have countable assets at or below $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple), and live with an adult caregiver other than a spouse who is willing and able to provide or arrange care. HCE is administered statewide by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs through 11 regional Area Agencies on Aging, which contract with local Lead Agencies to manage cases and authorize subsidies. Apply through the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.

$1,920–$6,000/yr

Optional State Supplementation is a monthly cash payment from the State of Florida that supplements an SSI-eligible senior's income so they can afford the cost of an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), Adult Family Care Home (AFCH), or Mental Health Residential Treatment Facility. OSS is for low-income seniors and disabled adults who need help with the activities of daily living but who do not require nursing-home-level care. The state pays the difference between the resident's countable income and a published 'provider rate plus personal needs allowance' total — for an individual in an ALF as of January 2026, that target total is $1,178.40 per month ($1,018.40 base provider rate plus a $160 monthly Personal Needs Allowance the resident keeps for incidentals). To qualify, you must meet SSI's categorical eligibility (age 65+, blind, or disabled with countable income and resources below the SSI limits), be assessed as needing the level of care the facility provides, and reside in a state-licensed facility that accepts OSS payments. Eligibility is determined by DCF; payments are made monthly.

$1,200–$9,600/yr

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) is Florida's Medicaid program for people who need nursing-home-level care — whether they receive that care in a nursing facility, an assisted living facility, or in their own home. SMMC LTC pays for nursing facility care, assisted living, adult day health care, home health aide and personal care visits, homemaker and respite services, home-delivered meals, adult companion services, home accessibility modifications, medical equipment, and case management — all coordinated by a managed-care plan you choose at enrollment. To qualify, you must be age 65 or older (or 18+ with a disability), be financially eligible under Florida Medicaid's institutional-care income and asset rules (for 2026 that is monthly income at or below $2,901 — 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate — and countable assets at or below $2,000 for an individual, with special spousal-impoverishment protections for married couples), and be determined by DOEA's CARES (Comprehensive Assessment and Review for Long-Term Care Services) program to require nursing-facility level of care. A waitlist is the norm: CARES screens and prioritizes applicants for available enrollment slots through a wait-list release process. Apply through the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or the DCF ACCESS portal — eligibility is determined by DCF while CARES handles the medical level-of-care determination.

$20,000–$80,000/yr

The Area Agency on Aging of Broward County, Inc. (AAABC) is the designated lead agency and Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Planning and Service Area 10 — which is Broward County in its entirety. AAABC delivers Older Americans Act Title III-C nutrition services through contracted local providers: home-delivered meals brought to homebound seniors year-round, and congregate meals served at neighborhood meal sites for ambulatory seniors who want both nutrition and social contact. Meal options include a variety of cuisines and dietary accommodations: pureed, kosher, gluten-free, Cuban, American variety, and other specialty meals. Eligibility is straightforward — age 60 or older and a Broward County resident — and there is no income test, though participants are offered the option to contribute voluntarily based on what they can afford. Programs are co-funded through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Areawide Council on Aging, and OAA Titles III-B, III-C, III-D, III-E, and VII, plus state Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) Acts. To apply or learn more, call the ADRC Helpline at 954-745-9779.

$1,800–$4,500/yr

Florida's Homestead Exemption reduces the taxable assessed value of an owner-occupied primary residence by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 is exempt from all ad-valorem property taxes (including school taxes). A second $25,000 exemption applies to the assessed value between $50,000 and $75,000 and is exempt from all property taxes except school district levies — so a homeowner whose home is assessed at $75,000 or more receives the full $50,000 reduction (with $25,000 of that not exempt from school taxes). Eligibility hinges on owning and making the home your permanent residence as of January 1 of the tax year. There is no age or income test for the base exemption. Once granted, the exemption automatically continues each year as long as the homeowner continues to occupy the home — re-application is only required if ownership or occupancy changes. The Homestead Exemption is also what unlocks the 'Save Our Homes' 3% annual assessment-increase cap, which protects long-time homeowners from large property-tax jumps when market values rise.

$200–$750/yr

On top of the base Florida Homestead Exemption and the $50,000 Senior Additional Homestead Exemption, Florida gives counties and cities the option to grant a Long-Term Resident Senior Homestead Exemption that can wipe out up to 100 percent of the assessed value of a qualifying low-income senior's home — paying $0 in the local property taxes the exemption applies to. To qualify you must be age 65 or older, hold the base homestead, have lived in the same home as your permanent residence for at least 25 years, have a household adjusted gross income at or below the same CPI-adjusted limit used for the $50,000 senior add-on ($38,686 for tax year 2026), and the home's just (market) value must be less than $250,000. Like the $50,000 senior add-on, this exemption is not automatic statewide — each county and each city has to adopt it by a super-majority ordinance, and adoption rates vary across Florida's 67 counties and 400+ municipalities. The exemption applies only to taxes levied by the adopting jurisdiction and does not apply to school district taxes. Apply by March 1 with your county Property Appraiser using the senior add-on application packet (typically Form DR-501SC plus a sworn statement of household income).

$800–$2,500/yr

Florida lets counties and municipalities grant an additional homestead exemption of up to $50,000 to homeowners age 65 and older with limited household income. This stacks on top of the base $25,000+$25,000 Homestead Exemption — so a qualifying low-income senior can shield up to $100,000 of assessed value from non-school property taxes in a county that adopts the maximum. The exemption applies only to taxes levied by the county or city that has adopted it; it does not apply to school district taxes. For the 2026 tax year, household income (the adjusted gross income of all household members, as defined by IRC §62) must not exceed $38,686 — a figure that the Florida Department of Revenue adjusts each January 1 by the change in the federal cost-of-living index from the statutory $20,000 base set in §196.075, Fla. Stat. Each county and city must adopt the exemption by ordinance, and the amount adopted (up to the $50,000 maximum) varies — many but not all Florida counties have adopted it, often at the full $50,000.

$300–$700/yr

Broward County Transit (BCT) offers a reduced fare for riders age 65 and older — currently $1.00 per single ride versus the standard adult fare — on every BCT fixed-route bus and the Breeze rapid service. Unlike Miami-Dade's Golden Passport, Broward does not waive the senior fare entirely; the reduced rate is available with either a BCT Reduced Fare Photo I.D. Card or any other acceptable government-issued ID showing proof of age. The Reduced Fare Photo I.D. Card is free and is the easiest way to prove eligibility on the bus. Photos for the card are taken in person at the Broward Central Terminal (101 NW 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale) or the Lauderhill Transit Center (1359 NW 40th Ave), Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.). Discounted monthly and 31-day passes are also available at the senior fare rate.

$100–$730/yr

TOPS! is Broward County's ADA-mandated shared-ride paratransit service for people whose physical, cognitive, emotional, visual, or other disability functionally prevents them from using the BCT fixed-route bus system — permanently, temporarily, or under certain conditions. TOPS! provides door-to-door rides anywhere within the BCT service area, with the same hours and service area as fixed-route bus service. To apply, complete the entire ADA Paratransit application, including the medical certification, and return it by mail, fax (954-357-8345), or email (Paratransit@broward.org), or in person at the BCT Paratransit Services office at 1 North University Drive, Suite 2400B, Plantation, FL 33324. Disability documentation alone is not enough — every applicant must complete an in-person functional assessment as part of the eligibility process. BCT mails a written eligibility determination within 21 days of receiving the completed application; if the determination is not made within 21 days, you can use TOPS! provisionally until it arrives.

$1,500–$8,000/yr

Broward County's Family Success Administration Division administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for residents struggling to pay their electric bill. Qualifying low-income households can receive up to $900 per year in direct utility payments — paid by the County straight to Florida Power & Light on the household's behalf, never as a check to the household. Eligibility is based on income and household size against the current federal poverty guidelines. As of late 2023, all LIHEAP applications are submitted online only — mail-in is no longer accepted. Application windows open and close periodically based on funding availability; check the Family Success LIHEAP page or call the Call Center at 954-357-5025 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) for the current status. Processing eligible applications takes up to 45 days, so apply well before any shut-off date if possible. Family Success also runs the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and emergency rental assistance programs through the same intake process.

$200–$900/yr