Senior benefits in Middlesex County, Connecticut

Senior Resources Agency on Aging in Norwich is the Area Agency on Aging for all 15 Middlesex County towns (Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook). Connecticut has no county government, so aging services are assigned by town. Its programs include CHOICES Medicare counseling, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Statewide Alzheimer's Respite program, nutrition meal sites with education and counseling, grandparent support, healthy living programs, Senior Medicare Patrol, Money Follows the Person, the Veterans Directed Care Program and Benefits Checkup. It also funds local agencies for adult day care, homemakers, home health aides and transportation. Call 860-887-3561. For free Medicare counseling from a CHOICES counselor, call 860-887-3561 ext. 132.

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

In all 15 Middlesex County towns (Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook), apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) through Community Renewal Team (CRT). CRT's Greater Middletown office is at 44 Hamlin Street, Middletown (860-347-4465); its Greater Hartford office is at 395 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford (860-560-5800). Email applications go to crtenergyapplication@crtct.org. CEAP is Connecticut's version of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Department of Social Services runs it with local Community Action Agencies. It helps pay home heating costs; benefits for the 2026-2027 season are $355 to $705, usually paid straight to the utility or fuel company. A household can qualify by getting SNAP, TANF, SSI or certain other benefits, or with yearly income at or below 60% of the state median income ($48,714 for 1 person or $63,703 for 2). Applications opened September 1, 2026, and the last day to apply is May 31, 2027. You can apply online, by phone, by email, by mail, or in person by appointment. CEAP is yearly, so apply again each season.

Estimated bill savings: $355–$705 a year

The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) has a Resource Center in this county: the Middletown Resource Center, 2081 South Main Street, Suite B, Middletown. Resource Centers are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Services in the office include eligibility interviews, picking up applications and forms, filling out applications on-site, general information, and picking up mail, EBT cards and income verifications. If an in-person interview is needed, make an appointment by calling the DSS Benefits Center at 1-855-626-6632 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Benefits such as SNAP food help and HUSKY Health (Medicaid) can also be applied for and renewed online at connect.ct.gov or in the MyDSS app. Applications for long-term services and supports (long-term care Medicaid) from 14 of the 15 Middlesex County towns (Old Saybrook is not on that DSS list, so Old Saybrook residents should call to ask) are handled by the DSS New Haven office, 50 Humphrey Street, New Haven.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Middlesex Health in Middletown offers financial assistance to patients who have trouble paying their hospital bills, even patients with health insurance. Middlesex Health provides Free Bed Funds and discounted care for those who qualify, based on a sliding scale of gross household income tied to the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and the number of people in the household. Patients who qualify are not charged more than someone whose insurance covers the same care. Interest-free payment plans are available to all patients. To get an application or to meet with a financial counselor, call 860-358-2402 or 860-358-2403, or visit the Middlesex Health Outpatient Center, 534 Saybrook Road, Middletown. Completed applications can be mailed or brought to that office.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Middlesex Health's financial assistance policy decides who qualifies and how much of the bill is covered; Middlesex Health makes the final decision.

Connecticut has no county government, so transit service depends on the town. River Valley Transit (RVT, the Estuary Transit District, formed in 2022 from Middletown Area Transit and 9 Town Transit) runs buses and Dial-A-Ride. Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb shared ride open to the general public with no application, in Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Durham, Essex, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland, Old Saybrook and Westbrook (plus Lyme and Old Lyme), Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM; call 860-510-0429. The Dial-A-Ride fare is $3.50 one way; seniors 60+ who live in those towns can pre-register to ride for a $1.75 donation (subject to funding). On RVT buses the regular fare is $1.75 and the senior/disabled fare is $0.85 for people 65 or older or with a disability who show a Medicare card or a statewide reduced fare ID. RVT ADA Paratransit ($3.50 a ride) serves people whose disability keeps them from using the bus, within 3/4 mile of bus routes; apply at ctada.com or call 860-510-0429 ext. 104. RVT's Taxi Voucher Program matches what seniors 60+ and people with disabilities pay for taxi rides 100%, up to $5,000 a year. Cromwell is not on the RVT Dial-A-Ride list; the Greater Hartford Transit District's ADA Paratransit covers parts of Cromwell and Middletown within 3/4 mile of fixed bus routes (call 860-247-5329).

Estimated service value: about $0 a year