Senior benefits in New Haven County, Connecticut

New Haven County towns are served by two Area Agencies on Aging, based on your town. The Agency on Aging of South Central CT (AOASCC) in North Haven serves Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Derby, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. AOASCC helps with meals, SNAP, legal help, caregiver support and respite, transportation options and CHOICES health insurance counseling. Call AOASCC at 203-785-8533, or CHOICES at 800-994-9422. The Western CT Area Agency on Aging in Waterbury serves Beacon Falls, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury and Wolcott (203-757-5449; press 4 for CHOICES Medicare counseling). In those towns, sign up for Meals on Wheels with New Opportunities at 203-575-4280.

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 New Haven County, the agency depends on your town. Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH) serves East Haven, Hamden, New Haven, North Haven and West Haven at 419 Whalley Avenue in New Haven (203-285-8018). New Opportunities, Inc. serves Cheshire, Meriden, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Wallingford, Waterbury and Wolcott: Meriden office at 55 West Street (203-235-0278) and Waterbury office at 232 North Street (203-756-8151). TEAM, Inc. serves Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour and Woodbridge at 30 Elizabeth Street in Derby (203-736-5420). Community Renewal Team (CRT) serves Branford, Guilford, Madison and North Branford (860-560-5800). 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 New Haven County are in New Haven (50 Humphrey Street) and Waterbury (249 Thomaston Avenue). 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

Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, including its York Street and Saint Raphael campuses, is part of Yale New Haven Health. 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, Waterbury Branch and Shore Line East train tickets. ADA paratransit in New Haven County: Greater New Haven Transit District serves Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge, with limited dial-a-ride to Ansonia, Cheshire, Seymour, Wallingford and Waterbury (paratransit 203-288-6643; information 203-288-6282). Milford Transit District runs ADA paratransit Monday through Saturday (203-874-4507). Valley Transit District serves Ansonia, Derby and Seymour (203-735-6408). In the Waterbury area, North East Transportation provides ADA paratransit for Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury and Wolcott (203-756-5550), and for Meriden and Wallingford (1-800-441-8901). The Greater Waterbury Transit District's ADA paratransit costs $3.50 per trip, and its free Dial-A-Ride mini-bus serves eligible riders in Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Waterbury and Wolcott. ADA paratransit is for people whose disability keeps them from using the regular bus; you must be found eligible first through the statewide Connecticut ADA paratransit application.

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