Senior benefits in Rock Island County, Illinois

Illinois LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) for Rock Island County residents is administered by Project NOW Community Action Agency (1830 Second Avenue, Rock Island), which serves Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties. LIHEAP provides a one-time heating/cooling benefit and furnace/reconnection help; the year-round PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) caps the energy bill at a percentage of income with monthly credits; Project NOW also runs weatherization. Households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify; seniors 60+ get priority windows. Apply at 309-793-6391 or HelpIllinoisFamilies (877-411-9276).

Estimated bill savings: $250–$1,500 a year

In this county: Rock Island: LIHEAP via Project NOW Community Action Agency (Henry/Mercer/Rock Island; +PIPP, weatherization). ≤60% State Median Income; seniors 60+ priority. For Program Year 2027, households that are customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas or Peoples Gas qualify with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines ($47,880 a year for one person); other households must be at or below 60% of the state median income ($41,290 for one person).

Rock Island 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). In the cities this is the City of Rock Island Township and the Moline / South Moline townships; elsewhere find your township supervisor through the county. (2) WIAAA for case management, meals, and the Community Care Program (309-793-6800). (3) Project NOW Community Action Agency for LIHEAP utility help and other supports. (4) UnityPoint Trinity and MercyOne Genesis financial assistance for medical bills. (5) Salvation Army / Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Peoria / Christian Care / King's Harvest. (6) River Bend Foodbank pantries. (7) Dial 211.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$3,000 a year

In this county: Rock Island: Illinois township General Assistance (City of Rock Island / Moline townships) is the front-line emergency aid. Layered with WIAAA, Project NOW LIHEAP, Trinity/Genesis charity care, and 211.

Rock Island County hospital safety net: the Illinois Quad Cities are served by two large nonprofit systems — UnityPoint Health-Trinity (full-service hospitals in Rock Island and Moline, part of a regional system that also reaches Bettendorf and Muscatine, Iowa) and MercyOne Genesis (a 150-bed medical center in Silvis, with the main Genesis campuses across the river in Davenport, Iowa). Both offer financial-assistance / charity-care programs with free or discounted care for low-income and uninsured patients. Illinois law (the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act) requires hospitals to discount bills for uninsured patients who apply: most hospitals must give a discount up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level and free care (for charges over $150 per visit) at or below 200%; rural and critical-access hospitals must give a discount up to 300% and free care (for charges over $300 per visit) at or below 125%. Apply at either system: UnityPoint Health Quad Cities Financial Counselors 309-779-2910 (https://www.unitypoint.org/patients-and-visitors/billing-and-financial-information/financial-assistance), or MercyOne Genesis at https://www.mercyone.org/genesis/for-patients/billing-and-financial-information.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$50,000 a year

In this county: Rock Island = UnityPoint Health-Trinity (Rock Island + Moline) + MercyOne Genesis (Silvis); cross-river to Davenport/Bettendorf IA. Illinois law requires discounts for uninsured patients (free care at or below 125-200% FPL, discounts up to 300-600% FPL, depending on hospital type).

Rock Island County's Area Agency on Aging is the Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA, headquartered in Rock Island). WIAAA is an Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC). Services: 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; family caregiver support (NFCSP); long-term care ombudsman; benefits counseling (SNAP / Medicare Part D / SHIP / Benefit Access); and adult protective services. WIAAA is one of Illinois's 13 Area Agencies on Aging. Call 309-793-6800 or 1-800-322-1051.

Estimated service value: $1,500–$6,000 a year

In this county: Rock Island: AAA = Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging (WIAAA, ADRC) — 7 NW-IL counties. Community Care Program (income-blind in-home care), meals, caregiver support, ombudsman.

Rock Island Township's Senior Cares Program gives income-eligible seniors age 65 or older a $75 grocery voucher each month for SaveMore or Hy-Vee in Rock Island. The voucher helps free up money for other bills like utilities and phone. A single person can qualify with income of $1,800 a month or less; a couple can have up to $2,500 a month. The program is for residents of Rock Island Township (the City of Rock Island area). Call the Township at 309-788-3417 to apply.

Estimated service value: about $900 a year

In this county: Only for residents of Rock Island Township (the City of Rock Island area), not all of Rock Island County. Income limit is $1,800 a month for a single person and $2,500 a month for a couple; the screen uses the couple limit, so a single person over $1,800 a month will not qualify.

Rock Island County public transportation is MetroLINK, the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District, serving the Illinois Quad Cities — Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Milan, Silvis, Carbon Cliff, Hampton, and Colona (with connections across the Mississippi River to Davenport/Bettendorf, Iowa). Riders age 60 and older pay the Honored Citizen half fare ($0.50 instead of the $1.00 adult fare, with half-price ticket books and punch passes) by showing a photo ID with proof of age or a Metro Reduced Fare Card. Seniors 65+ and people with disabilities who are enrolled in the Illinois Benefit Access Program ride FREE on fixed-route buses with a Metro Benefit Access ID (renewed every two years). Veterans ride fixed-route buses free through the Veterans Accessibility Program by showing a veteran-marked Illinois or Iowa license or ID, a military retirement card, a VA Medical ID card, or a DD214 with a state ID (renewed every three years). MetroLINK also runs ADA paratransit ($2 one way). Apply for a Reduced Fare Card or Benefit Access ID at MetroLINK's Centre Station in Moline.

Estimated service value: $300–$2,500 a year

In this county: Rock Island: MetroLINK — Honored Citizen half fare at age 60+; seniors 65+ enrolled in Benefit Access ride FREE on fixed route; ADA paratransit; QC metro incl. cross-river to Davenport IA.