Senior benefits in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in Orleans Parish, Louisiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, food, energy bills, housing costs, and daily living. The New Orleans Council on Aging is a strong local starting point — it connects older adults to services and support across the parish. Other local resources include energy assistance through Total Community Action, Inc., transportation options from the New Orleans RTA, and financial assistance for medical bills at University Medical Center New Orleans. Louisiana state programs available here include Medicaid options like the Community Choices Waiver and Long-Term Personal Care Services, which help people stay at home instead of moving to a nursing facility. Free Medicare counseling is offered through LaSHIP, and property tax relief may be available through the homestead exemption and the special assessment level freeze. Federal programs also apply, covering areas like food, prescription costs, and veterans' benefits. Each program listed on this page shows its source and the date it was last verified, and the agency administering each program makes the final eligibility decision.
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Local programs
10
Louisiana programs
25
Federal programs
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Categories
Last verified · September 28, 2026
Local starting point
New Orleans Council on Aging, Inc.
1-504-821-4121
See which of these Orleans Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Orleans 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 Orleans Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Orleans Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in Orleans Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (New Orleans Council on Aging) — Orleans Parish
CountyThe New Orleans Council on Aging in New Orleans serves older adults in Orleans Parish. Services include meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, home repair, information and assistance, legal help, medication management, personal care, and caregiver counseling and respite. Call (504) 821-4121 to ask about services. It also runs the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes, a place to start for long-term care options.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Orleans Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (Total Community Action, Inc.) — Orleans Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home cooling and heating bills. Total Community Action, Inc. in New Orleans takes applications for Orleans 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 504-875-2660 to apply. Another listed line is 504-875-2645.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in Orleans Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (University Medical Center New Orleans (LCMC Health)) — Orleans Parish
CountyUniversity Medical Center New Orleans, part of LCMC Health, has financial assistance programs to help patients with health care costs, regardless of ability to pay. Under its policy summary, patients with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines owe nothing for their care, and those between 251% and 400% may get discounted rates. You may not qualify if you have enough insurance or assets to pay. Call a financial counselor at 504-962-7000, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Orleans Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Public transit and paratransit (New Orleans RTA) — Orleans Parish
CountyThe New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) runs buses, streetcars and ferries across Orleans Parish. Riders age 65 and older, veterans, and riders with disabilities pay a reduced Priority fare of $0.40 (regular fare is $1.25). All RTA buses are wheelchair accessible. For riders who cannot use regular routes because of a disability, door-to-door paratransit is available by reservation for certified riders ($2.00 one way). Call the RideLine at 504-248-3900, or 504-827-7433 for paratransit.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Orleans 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.
New Orleans Council on Aging, Inc.
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (New Orleans Council on Aging)
Total Community Action, Inc.
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (Total Community Action, Inc.)
University Medical Center New Orleans (LCMC Health)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (University Medical Center New Orleans (LCMC Health))
Regional Transit Authority of New Orleans (RTA)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Orleans 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.