Senior benefits in Vigo County, Indiana
Seniors in Vigo County, Indiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, food, energy costs, transportation, and more. Thrive West Central, the Area 7 Agency on Aging serving the Wabash Valley region, is a strong local starting point — it offers Options Counseling, PathWays/CHOICE home and community services, and meal programs. If you need help paying utility bills, the Vigo County Energy Assistance Program can assist with heating and cooling costs. Terre Haute Transit provides fare-free fixed-route service and ADA paratransit for those who qualify. Local hospital financial assistance through Union Health and Terre Haute Regional Hospital may help cover medical costs. Township Trustee Poor Relief offers emergency aid coordination for those facing urgent needs. State programs like HoosierRx, Indiana SHIP, and Indiana Medicaid ABD add another layer of support. Dozens of federal programs apply here as well. Each listing on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified — the program agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
5
Local programs
18
Indiana programs
25
Federal programs
16
Categories
Local starting point
Thrive West Central / West Central Indiana Economic Development District, Inc. (Terre Haute) — the Area 7 Area Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center serving Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo counties in the Wabash Valley
812-238-1561
See which of these Vigo County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Vigo 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 Vigo County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Vigo County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Vigo County Energy Assistance Program (EAP) (Vigo County)
CountyIndiana Energy Assistance Program (EAP) for Vigo County residents is delivered through Western Indiana Community Action Agency (WICAA), the regional Community Action agency. EAP provides a one-time winter-heating / summer-cooling credit (up to $675) plus winter disconnection protection for households at or below 60% of the State Median Income (~$33,556/year for one person). Apply through the Indiana EAP client portal (in.gov/ihcda) or Western Indiana Community Action Agency (WICAA) (812-232-3500).
$200–$675/yr
Vigo County Township Trustee Poor Relief + Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination (Vigo County)
CountyVigo County emergency aid: (1) DISTINCTIVE to Indiana — each elected Township Trustee provides 'poor relief' (township assistance): emergency help with rent / eviction prevention, utility shutoff, food, clothing, medical needs, and burial expenses for residents of that township. Vigo County has 12 townships; find your trustee through the county offices. (2) Thrive West Central for senior case management, meals, and PathWays/CHOICE (812-238-1561). (3) The regional Community Action agency for EAP utility help. (4) The county hospital Financial Assistance Programs for healthcare. (5) Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul / Catholic Charities. (6) Catholic Charities Foodbank of Terre Haute (serving the Wabash Valley). (7) Dial 211 for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
Union Health + Terre Haute Regional Hospital — Financial Assistance (Vigo County)
CountyVigo County hospital safety net: Vigo = Union Health (Union Hospital, dominant; free <212% FPL) + Terre Haute Regional (HCA) — merging under a 2025 state approval. Indiana hospitals do not have a single state-mandated charity-care law (unlike New Jersey); each runs its own Financial Assistance Program, typically a sliding scale to 200-300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and non-profit hospitals must offer one. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.union.health/financial-assistance. Phone: 812-238-7621.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Vigo: Vigo = Union Health (Union Hospital, dominant; free <212% FPL) + Terre Haute Regional (HCA) — merging under a 2025 state approval. Each hospital runs its own Financial Assistance Program (no Indiana state-mandated charity-care law).
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Thrive West Central (Area 7 Agency on Aging) — Options Counseling + PathWays/CHOICE + Meals (Vigo County)
CountyVigo County's Area Agency on Aging is Thrive West Central (Area 7 Agency on Aging). Services: Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) options counseling; enrollment/assessment for the Medicaid PathWays for Aging waiver and the state CHOICE program; home-delivered and congregate meals; caregiver support (NFCSP); rural transportation; and home modifications. Thrive West Central is one of Indiana's 16 AAAs, serving the 6-county Wabash Valley. Apply by calling 812-238-1561 or 800-489-1561.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $300–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Terre Haute Transit — Fare-Free Fixed Route + ADA Paratransit (Vigo County)
CountyTerre Haute Transit's fixed-route buses and ADA paratransit are fare-free for all riders — every ride, every age, since January 1, 2025. No ID, application, or senior card is needed to board. Call 812-235-0109 (TDD 812-478-0192) with questions or for disability-related service modifications.
$300–$1,500/yr
In this county: Vigo: every ride is free for everyone — just board.
Indiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Vigo County and across the rest of Indiana. Full details are on the Indiana benefits page.
Caregiver Support
- Indiana Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)State$500–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
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 →
- Indiana CHOICE — Community and Home Options to Institutional CareState$2,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- HoosierRx — Indiana State Pharmaceutical Assistance ProgramState$300–$840/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana Medicaid — Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)State$4,000–$30,000/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana Medicare Savings Programs (QMB / SLMB / QI)State$2,435–$7,000/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana PathWays for Aging Waiver — Medicaid HCBS for Seniors 60+State$8,000–$60,000/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance ProgramState$100–$2,000/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)State$30,000–$80,000/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
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 →
- Indiana County Veteran Service Officers (Free VA Claims Help)StateOfficial source →
- Indiana Disabled Veteran Hunting & Fishing License ($2.75 a Year)StateOfficial source →
- Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Madison)StateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federalup to $1,125/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana Disabled Veteran Property Tax Credits ($350 Wartime / $250 Age 62+)State$250–$600/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana Totally Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (100% of Home Value)State$1,100–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Indiana Over-65 Property Tax Benefits — Deduction + Circuit Breaker CreditState$200–$1,500/yrOfficial source →
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.