Senior benefits in Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in Bienville 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 Bienville Council on Aging is a strong local starting point — it connects residents to Area Agency on Aging services and offers senior transportation to help with getting around the parish. If medical bills are a concern, Bienville Medical Center offers a Hospital Financial Assistance program for those who qualify. Help with energy costs may be available through LIHEAP energy assistance, administered locally by the DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services. At the state level, programs like Louisiana Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, LaSHIP Medicare counseling, SNAP food assistance, and property tax relief options may also apply. Dozens of federal programs — covering food, health, and financial support — may be available as well. Each program listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and the administering agency makes the final eligibility decision.
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Local programs
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Louisiana programs
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Federal programs
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Categories
Last verified · September 28, 2026
Local starting point
Bienville Council on Aging (Caddo Council on Aging region)
1-318-263-8936
See which of these Bienville Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Bienville 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 Bienville Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Bienville Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in Bienville Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (Caddo Council on Aging / Bienville Council on Aging) — Bienville Parish
CountyThe Bienville Council on Aging serves older adults in Bienville Parish. Services include group meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, information and referral, legal assistance, medication management, in-home respite for family caregivers, caregiver sitter service, outreach, recreation, telephone check-ins, transportation, and wellness programs. The office is in Arcadia. Call 318-263-8936 to ask about services. The Caddo Council on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center for the region; call it at 318-676-7900.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Bienville Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services) — Bienville Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In Bienville Parish, the Louisiana Housing Corporation lists DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services as the local LIHEAP provider (office in Mansfield, DeSoto Parish). Crisis help is available if a household has a disconnect or pending disconnection notice. Call 800-872-0889 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in Bienville Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (Bienville Medical Center) — Bienville Parish
CountyBienville Medical Center in Arcadia offers free eligibility services for patients who have trouble paying for medical care. Staff screen you with a questionnaire to find federal, state, or county programs that may help pay your medical bills, such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability, Health Insurance Marketplace coverage, or county indigent funds, then help gather documents and fill out the applications. The hospital's website does not post a charity-care income limit. Call 318-263-4700 for an appointment.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Bienville Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Senior transportation (Bienville Council on Aging) — Bienville Parish
CountyThe Bienville Council on Aging lists transportation among its services for older adults in Bienville Parish. Call 318-263-8936 to ask about rides, where they go, and how far ahead to book. The state's rural transit guide lists no separate public transit provider for Bienville Parish.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Bienville 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.
Bienville Council on Aging (Caddo Council on Aging region)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Caddo Council on Aging / Bienville Council on Aging)
Bienville Medical Center
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (Bienville Medical Center)
Bienville Council on Aging
DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Bienville 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.