Senior benefits in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
Seniors in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana may qualify for a wide range of benefit programs at the local, state, and federal levels. A good place to start is the Ouachita Council on Aging, which connects residents to services including senior transportation to help with getting around the parish. The Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program offers LIHEAP energy assistance to help with utility costs. Seniors who need medical care may want to look into Hospital Financial Assistance through St. Francis Medical Center. 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. Louisiana also offers property tax relief through the homestead exemption and a special assessment level freeze for qualifying homeowners. Federal programs covering health, food, and financial support may apply here as well. Each program listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and the relevant agency makes the final eligibility decision.
4
Local programs
10
Louisiana programs
25
Federal programs
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Categories
Last verified · September 28, 2026
Local starting point
Ouachita Council on Aging (Cenla Area Agency on Aging region)
1-318-387-0535
See which of these Ouachita Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Ouachita 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 Ouachita Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Ouachita Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in Ouachita Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (Cenla Area Agency on Aging / Ouachita Council on Aging) — Ouachita Parish
CountyThe Ouachita Council on Aging serves older adults in Ouachita Parish. Services include group meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, information and referral, legal assistance, material aid, medication management, in-home respite for family caregivers, personal care, caregiver sitter service, outreach, recreation, telephone check-ins, transportation, utility assistance, and wellness programs. The office is in Monroe. Call 318-387-0535 to ask about services. The Cenla Area Agency on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center for the region; call it at 318-484-2260.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in Ouachita Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program) — Ouachita Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In Ouachita Parish, the Louisiana Housing Corporation lists Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program as the local LIHEAP provider in Monroe. Crisis help is available if a household has a disconnect or pending disconnection notice. Call 318-322-7151 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in Ouachita Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Francis Medical Center) — Ouachita Parish
CountySt. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, part of FMOL Health, offers financial assistance for emergency and medically necessary care. Uninsured patients with family income up to 275% of the federal poverty level can get a full write-off of hospital charges. Uninsured patients above 275% may qualify if their medical bills for the past 12 months are more than 20% of family income. Underinsured patients are treated as uninsured. Call St. Francis at 318-966-4000 and ask for Admissions to talk with a financial counselor; in-person help is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in Ouachita Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Senior transportation (Ouachita Council on Aging) — Ouachita Parish
CountyThe Ouachita Council on Aging runs a non-emergency van service in Ouachita Parish for people 60 and older and people with disabilities. Vans go to doctor visits, dialysis, heart and rehab centers, and the senior center in Monroe, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Six of the seven vans are lift-equipped, and donations are accepted. Call 318-387-0535. In Monroe, Monroe Transit System buses charge $0.50 for older adults and Medicare riders (318-329-2207), and West Ouachita Public Transit serves western Ouachita Parish (318-397-3299).
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving Ouachita 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.
Ouachita Council on Aging (Cenla Area Agency on Aging region)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Cenla Area Agency on Aging / Ouachita Council on Aging)
Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (Ouachita Multi-Purpose Community Action Program)
St. Francis Medical Center (FMOL Health | St. Francis)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Francis Medical Center)
Ouachita Council on Aging
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Ouachita 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.