Senior benefits in Bond County, Illinois
Seniors living in Bond County, Illinois, may qualify for more help than they realize. AgeSmart Community Resources, the Area Agency on Aging serving this region, is a strong local starting point — it connects residents to Options Counseling, the Community Care Program, and local meal services. Bond County Transit offers senior transportation and benefit access support, and BCMW Community Services delivers energy assistance through the Bond County LIHEAP program for those who need help with heating and cooling costs. If you receive care at HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, financial assistance may also be available. Beyond these local resources, Illinois state programs cover a wide range, including the Illinois Community Care Program, Medicare Savings Programs, the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), property tax freezes for seniors, and caregiver support. Federal programs add another layer of potential help. Every program listed on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and each agency makes the final eligibility decision.
5
Local programs
22
Illinois programs
25
Federal programs
17
Categories
Local starting point
AgeSmart Community Resources (the PSA 11 Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois, serving Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington counties)
618-222-2561
See which of these Bond County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Bond 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 Bond County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Bond County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Bond County LIHEAP — Energy Assistance (Bond County)
CountyIllinois LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) for Bond County residents is administered by BCMW Community Services (the Bond / Clinton / Marion / Washington Community Action Agency). LIHEAP provides a one-time heating/cooling benefit and reconnection help; the year-round PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) caps the energy bill at a percentage of income with monthly credits. Households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify (some LIHEAP benefits to 300%); seniors 60+ get priority application windows. Apply through BCMW Community Services (the Bond / Clinton / Marion / Washington Community Action Agency) (618-532-7388) or HelpIllinoisFamilies (877-411-9276).
$250–$1,500/yr
In this county: Bond: LIHEAP via BCMW Community Services (the Bond / Clinton / Marion / Washington Community Action Agency) (+PIPP). ≤60% State Median Income; seniors 60+ priority.
Bond County General Assistance + Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination (Bond County)
CountyBond County emergency aid: (1) DISTINCTIVE to Illinois — TOWNSHIP GENERAL ASSISTANCE (GA): each township supervisor provides emergency 'General Assistance' for residents with little or no income — help with rent, utilities, food, and personal/medical needs (Illinois's analog to Indiana's township-trustee relief). Find your Bond County township supervisor through the county. (2) AgeSmart Community Resources / the local senior center for case management, meals, and the Community Care Program (618-222-2561). (3) BCMW Community Services (the Bond / Clinton / Marion / Washington Community Action Agency) for LIHEAP utility help. (4) The county hospital financial-assistance programs for medical bills. (5) Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul / Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Belleville. (6) St. Louis Area Foodbank partner pantries. (7) Dial 211.
$200–$3,000/yr
In this county: Bond: township General Assistance is the front-line emergency aid (parallels Indiana's township trustees). Layered with AgeSmart, LIHEAP (BCMW Community Services (the Bond / Clinton / Marion / Washington Community Action Agency)), hospital charity care, and 211.
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$35,000 a year to an eligible household.
HSHS Holy Family Hospital (Greenville) — Financial Assistance (Bond County)
CountyBond County hospital safety net: HSHS Holy Family Hospital (Hospital Sisters Health System, Greenville) is the county's anchor — a nonprofit Catholic hospital. As an HSHS facility it offers a Patient Financial Assistance / Community Care Program, with free or discounted care for households at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. DISTINCTIVE to Illinois: state law (the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act + Fair Patient Billing Act) REQUIRES hospitals to provide financial assistance — uninsured patients at or below 200% (rural/critical-access) or 300% (urban) of the Federal Poverty Level generally receive free care, with capped discounts above that. Most Illinois hospitals have a robust charity-care policy as a result. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.hshs.org/holy-family/patients-guests/patient-financial-services. Phone: 800-994-0368.
$500–$35,000/yr
In this county: Bond: Bond = HSHS Holy Family Hospital (Greenville, nonprofit Catholic) — free/discounted care ≤300% FPL. Illinois LAW mandates hospital financial assistance (free care to ~200-300% FPL).
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
AgeSmart Community Resources (PSA 11) — Options Counseling + Community Care Program + Meals (Bond County)
CountyBond County's Area Agency on Aging is AgeSmart Community Resources (PSA 11, southwestern Illinois). Services: Aging & Disability Resource Network information and assistance; intake/referral for the Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) in-home services via a local Care Coordination Unit; home-delivered and congregate meals; caregiver support (NFCSP); benefits counseling (SNAP / Medicare / SHIP / Benefit Access); and adult protective services. AgeSmart is one of Illinois's 13 Area Agencies on Aging. Call 618-222-2561 or 1-800-326-3221.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Bond County Senior Transportation + Benefit Access (Bond County)
CountyBond County public transportation is Bond County Transit, a demand-response curb-to-curb system open to all residents of Bond County (Greenville, Pocahontas, Sorento, Mulberry Grove). Through a contract with AgeSmart Community Resources it provides thousands of trips a year for older adults; an Intercity Bus route runs to Centralia, where riders transfer to South Central Transit. The Illinois Benefit Access Program adds free/reduced fares for income-eligible riders 65+.
$200–$2,000/yr
In this county: Bond: Bond County Transit demand-response + Illinois Benefit Access free/reduced fare for 65+.
Illinois and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Bond County and across the rest of Illinois. Full details are on the Illinois benefits page.
Caregiver Support
- Illinois Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)State$500–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
Cash Assistance
Emergency Aid
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois Medicaid — Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD)State$4,000–$30,000/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois Medicare Savings Program (QMB / SLMB / QI)State$2,435–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois SHIP — Senior Health Insurance Program (Medicare Counseling)Stateup to $2,000/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)State$30,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois Community Care Program (CCP) — In-Home Services for Seniors 60+State$3,000–$25,000/yrOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrOfficial source →
Long Term Care
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyFederal$6,000–$40,000/yrOfficial source →
- Comprehensive Care in Residential Settings (CCRS)StateOfficial source →
- Illinois Veterans' Homes (Long-Term Care)StateOfficial source →
- Illinois Supportive Living Program — Medicaid-covered assisted livingStateOfficial source →
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
Nutrition
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
- Illinois Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled VeteransStateOfficial source →
- Illinois Veteran Service Officers (Free VA Claims Help)StateOfficial source →
- Illinois Care Connections (ICC)StateOfficial source →
- Illinois Volunteer Money Management ProgramStateOfficial source →
- Sunset Veterans Cemetery at Quincy (State Veterans Cemetery)StateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federalup to $1,125/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois 70%+ Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption (Property Tax Exempt up to $250,000 EAV)State$3,000–$9,000/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois Veterans with Disabilities Homestead Exemption (Partial, 30%–69% Rating)State$150–$500/yrOfficial source →
- Illinois Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze + Homestead Exemption (Property Tax)State$150–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
Transportation
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrOfficial source →
Nearby counties
County 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.