Senior benefits in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with healthcare, food, energy costs, and daily living. The Lafayette Council on Aging, which serves as the local Cajun Area Agency on Aging, is a strong starting point for finding local support and services. Through the Lafayette Council on Aging transportation program, seniors can get help getting where they need to go. SMILE Community Action Agency offers LIHEAP energy assistance to help with utility bills, and Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center provides a hospital financial assistance program for those who qualify. State programs available here include Louisiana Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, LaSHIP Medicare counseling, SNAP food assistance, and property tax relief options like the homestead exemption and the special assessment level freeze for eligible homeowners. Federal programs also apply, covering areas like food, prescription costs, and veterans' benefits. Each program listed on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and the relevant 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
Lafayette Council on Aging (Cajun Area Agency on Aging region)
1-337-262-5990
See which of these Lafayette Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Lafayette 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 Lafayette Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Lafayette Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in Lafayette Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (Cajun Area Agency on Aging / Lafayette Council on Aging) — Lafayette Parish
CountyThe Lafayette Council on Aging serves older adults in Lafayette Parish as part of the Cajun Area Agency on Aging network. Services include congregate meals, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, in-home respite for caregivers, legal assistance, the long-term care ombudsman, recreation, telephone check-ins, transportation, home visits, and wellness programs. The office is at 160 Industrial Parkway, Lafayette. Call 337-262-5990 to ask about services. For Medicare Part D enrollment help, call the Cajun Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-738-2256.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Lafayette Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (SMILE Community Action Agency) — Lafayette Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In Lafayette Parish, the Louisiana Housing Corporation lists SMILE Community Action Agency as the local LIHEAP provider. Crisis help is available if a household has a disconnect or pending disconnection notice. Call 337-234-3272 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in Lafayette Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center) — Lafayette Parish
CountyOchsner Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette is part of Ochsner Health, which offers financial assistance for emergency and medical care to patients who cannot pay. Eligibility is based on family income and the federal poverty guidelines. Patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may qualify for 100% financial assistance. Help applies to the patient's portion of the bill only, such as a deductible or copay. Call 504-842-4190 to apply, or apply on MyOchsner.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Lafayette Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Public transit (Lafayette Council on Aging transportation) — Lafayette Parish
CountyThe Lafayette Council on Aging gives demand-response rides to older adults and people with disabilities in Lafayette Parish, using wheelchair vans. Rides run 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Thursday and 8:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday, at $4.00 per trip. Call (337) 262-5990. Lafayette Transit System also runs city buses and paratransit for prequalified riders at (337)291-8570.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Lafayette 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.
Lafayette Council on Aging (Cajun Area Agency on Aging region)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Cajun Area Agency on Aging / Lafayette Council on Aging)
Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center (Ochsner Health)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center)
Lafayette Council on Aging
Runs: Public transit (Lafayette Council on Aging transportation)
SMILE Community Action Agency
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (SMILE Community Action Agency)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Lafayette 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.