Senior benefits in Fairfield County, Connecticut

Fairfield County towns are served by three Area Agencies on Aging, based on your town. The Southwestern CT Agency on Aging (SWCAA) in Bridgeport serves Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton. SWCAA helps people understand and enroll in Medicare, Medicaid and other health coverage, offers caregiver guidance and respite, and connects people to the CT Home Care Program for Elders and home-delivered meals. Call SWCAA at 203-333-9288 or Aging Answers at 800-994-9422. The Western CT Area Agency on Aging in Waterbury serves Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman (203-757-5449; press 4 for CHOICES Medicare counseling). In these towns, sign up for Meals on Wheels with RW Solutions at 203-628-7540. Shelton is served by the Agency on Aging of South Central CT in North Haven (203-785-8533).

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) helps households with lower incomes pay home heating costs. CEAP is paid for by the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant and run by the Department of Social Services (DSS) through local Community Action Agencies. In Fairfield County, the agency depends on your town. Community Action Agency of Western CT (CAAWC) serves Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, Stamford, Weston and Wilton: Danbury office at 78 Triangle Street (203-748-5422) and Stamford office at 34 Woodland Avenue (203-357-0720). Alliance for Community Empowerment serves Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull and Westport: Bridgeport office at 1070 Park Avenue (203-366-8241 ext. 3991) and Norwalk office at 108 Main Street (203-838-8110). Shelton is served by TEAM, Inc. at 30 Elizabeth Street in Derby (203-736-5420). Apply online through the DSS Client Online portal, or call your local agency to apply by phone, by email, by mail or in person. CEAP is accepting applications until May 31, 2027.

Estimated bill savings: $355–$705 a year

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) handles applications for programs such as SNAP food help and HUSKY Health (Medicaid). DSS resource centers in Fairfield County are in Bridgeport (925 Housatonic Avenue), Danbury (342 Main Street) and Stamford (1642 Bedford Street). At a resource center you can have an eligibility interview, pick up or fill out applications and forms, get general information, and pick up mail, EBT cards and income verifications. Resource centers are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment for an in-person interview, call the DSS Benefits Center at 1-855-626-6632 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). You can also apply for benefits, renew and upload documents any time online at www.connect.ct.gov. Documents can be left in the outside drop-boxes or mailed to the DSS Scanning Center, PO Box 1320, Manchester, CT 06045.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Bridgeport Hospital (267 Grant Street, Bridgeport) and Greenwich Hospital (5 Perryridge Road, Greenwich) are part of Yale New Haven Health and use the same financial assistance programs. Yale New Haven Health's Free Care Program may give a full (100%) discount off the amount owed if family income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. Its Discounted Care program may give a partial discount if family income is at or below 550% of the federal poverty level. Both programs are for insured or uninsured patients who live in the United States, and they cover emergency or other medically necessary care billed by Yale New Haven Health. You must fill out an application and send documents that show financial need. Yale New Haven Health answers each application in writing, and if denied you can re-apply at any time. For a free copy of the policy and application, or for help applying, call Patient Financial and Admitting Services at 855-547-4584. Staff can also help you apply for Medicaid.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Yale New Haven Health decides eligibility under its own policy; the programs cover only Yale New Haven Health bills for emergency or medically necessary care.

People 65 and older, and people with a qualifying disability, can ride for a reduced fare at any time on CTtransit and the other state-funded bus systems. Show your Medicare card to the driver when you board; local bus systems must accept it for a half fare. You can also apply for a CTDOT Reduced Fare Transit Photo ID card. Senior reduced fares also apply to one-way Metro-North New Haven Line and Danbury and New Canaan Branch train tickets. Bus systems in Fairfield County: Greater Bridgeport Transit (GBT) gives half fare to riders 65 and older who show a Medicare card or a Connecticut Elderly or Disabled card (203-333-3031). GBT Access is the ADA paratransit service for riders who cannot use the city bus, mostly in Bridgeport and parts of Fairfield, Stratford and Trumbull; call 203-366-7070 ext. 131. Norwalk Transit District (Wheels buses) gives riders 65 and older 50% off and runs ADA paratransit in Norwalk, Stamford and Westport and near CTtransit bus routes in Greenwich and Darien (203-299-5180), plus a Westport Elderly & Disabled service (203-852-0000). In the Danbury area, HARTransit's SweetHART program gives seniors 65 and older half fare on CityBus and door-to-door Dial-a-Ride in Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Newtown and Ridgefield, and SweetHART ADA paratransit in Danbury, Bethel and Brookfield (203-744-4070). You must apply first for GBT Access, Norwalk Transit door-to-door service and SweetHART. In Shelton, Valley Transit District provides ADA paratransit Monday through Saturday (203-735-6408).

Estimated service value: $50–$1,500 a year

In this county: Each transit district sets its own service area, hours and paratransit eligibility; ADA paratransit is only for people whose disability prevents them from using the regular bus.