Senior benefits in Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in Ascension Parish, Louisiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with everyday costs, health care, and staying independent at home. The Ascension Council on Aging is a strong local starting point, offering services and senior and disability transportation across the parish. Residents may also qualify for hospital financial assistance through Our Lady of the Lake Ascension, or for energy bill help through the QUAD Area Community Action Agency's LIHEAP program. At the state level, programs like Louisiana Medicaid, the Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, Medicare Savings Programs, and LaSHIP free Medicare counseling may be available to eligible seniors. Louisiana also offers property tax relief through the homestead exemption and the special assessment level freeze, plus a retirement income exclusion for those 65 and older. Dozens of federal programs apply here as well. Each listing on this page shows its official source and last verified date, and the administering agency makes all final eligibility decisions.
4
Local programs
10
Louisiana programs
25
Federal programs
16
Categories
Last verified · September 28, 2026
Local starting point
Ascension Council on Aging
1-225-473-3789
See which of these Ascension Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Ascension Parish 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 Ascension Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Ascension Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in Ascension Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (Ascension Council on Aging) — Ascension Parish
CountyThe Ascension Council on Aging in Donaldsonville serves older adults in Ascension Parish. Services include meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, information and assistance, legal help, medication management, transportation, utility assistance, and caregiver respite and sitter service. Call (225) 473-3789 to ask about services. The Capital Area Agency on Aging is the regional Area Agency on Aging for Ascension Parish and runs its Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), a place to start for long-term care options: call (225) 925-7674 or toll-free (800) 833-9883.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Ascension Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (QUAD Area Community Action Agency) — Ascension Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home cooling and heating bills. QUAD Area Community Action Agency, based in Hammond, takes applications for Ascension Parish. LIHEAP may help with a cooling or heating bill, a crisis bill such as a shut-off notice, or repair or replacement of a heating or cooling unit. You must be responsible for the home energy bill, and a household can get one LIHEAP benefit each season. Call 225-644-8532 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in Ascension Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (Our Lady of the Lake Ascension (FMOL Health)) — Ascension Parish
CountyOur Lady of the Lake Ascension in Gonzales (the Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth campus) is part of FMOL Health. The FMOL Health financial assistance policy covers emergency and medically necessary care for uninsured and underinsured patients. Uninsured patients with family income up to 275% of the federal poverty level can get a full write-off of hospital charges, and those above 275% whose medical bills for the past 12 months are more than 20% of family income may also qualify. Call financial counseling at (225) 647-5000 for free help applying.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Ascension Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Senior and disability transportation (Ascension Council on Aging) — Ascension Parish
CountyThe Ascension Council on Aging gives demand-response rides to older adults and people with disabilities in Ascension Parish, Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in lift-equipped vehicles. Riders over 60 are asked for a donation, but it is not required, for trips to senior centers, local doctors, drug and grocery stores, and social service agencies. Drivers do not enter homes; riders with disabilities must manage on their own or bring an aide, and one escort rides free. Call (225) 473-3789.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Ascension Parish
Who runs the parish programs above, and how to reach them. Every line comes from a program record on this page — nothing is added that the catalog does not cite.
Ascension Council on Aging
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Ascension Council on Aging)
QUAD Area Community Action Agency, Inc.
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (QUAD Area Community Action Agency)
Our Lady of the Lake Ascension (Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (Our Lady of the Lake Ascension (FMOL Health))
Ascension Parish Council on Aging
Runs: Senior and disability transportation (Ascension Council on Aging)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Ascension Parish and across the rest of Louisiana. Full details are on the Louisiana benefits page.
Elder Services
- LaSHIP — free Medicare counseling (Louisiana Senior Health Information Program)State$100–$2,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrCashOfficial source →
Energy Assistance
- LIHEAP energy assistance (Louisiana)State$200–$1,600/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrCashOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrCashOfficial source →
- SNAP food assistance (Louisiana)State$276–$3,576/yrCashOfficial source →
Health Coverage
- Louisiana Medicaid for people 65+, blind, or disabled (SSI and Provisional Medicaid)State$2,000–$15,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Home Care
- Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) — Medicaid help with daily care at homeState$3,000–$20,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrCashOfficial source →
Long Term Care
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyFederal$6,000–$40,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Community Choices Waiver (CCW) — Medicaid care at home instead of a nursing homeState$5,000–$25,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federalabout $2,435/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federalabout $2,435/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)State$2,100–$5,200/yrPremium savingsOfficial source →
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrService valueOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federal$0–$1,125/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Homestead exemption (property tax) for Louisiana homeownersState$100–$1,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Special assessment level (property tax assessment freeze) for homeowners 65+, disabled, or disabled veteransState$0–$1,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Louisiana income tax: $12,000 retirement income exclusion for age 65+ (and exempt Social Security and public pensions)State$0–$360/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrLower billsOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrLower billsOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrCashOfficial source →
Nearby parishes
Local programs differ from one parish to the next. If you live near a parish 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.