Senior benefits in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in St. Bernard 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 St. Bernard Council on Aging is a strong local starting point — it connects older adults and their families to services across the parish. Other local resources include Hospital Financial Assistance through St. Bernard Parish Hospital, energy bill help through the LIHEAP program offered by St. Bernard Parish Government, and rides through St. Bernard Transit. At the state level, programs like Louisiana Medicaid, the Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, Medicare Savings Programs, and LaSHIP Medicare counseling may help reduce health care costs. Louisiana also offers property tax relief through the Homestead Exemption and the Special Assessment Level freeze for qualifying homeowners 65 and older. Federal programs add even more options for food, health, and financial support. Each listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified — the agency always 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
St. Bernard Council on Aging, Inc.
1-504-278-7335
See which of these St. Bernard Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the St. Bernard 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 St. Bernard Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving St. Bernard Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (St. Bernard Council on Aging) — St. Bernard Parish
CountyThe St. Bernard Council on Aging in Chalmette serves older adults in St. Bernard Parish. Services include meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, information and assistance, legal help, outreach, recreation, transportation, wellness, and caregiver respite. Call (504) 278-7335 to ask about services. For long-term care options, the New Orleans Council on Aging runs the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for St. Bernard Parish at (504) 821-4121.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Bernard Parish Government) — St. Bernard Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home cooling and heating bills. St. Bernard Parish Government in Chalmette takes applications for St. Bernard 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 504-278-4468 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in St. Bernard Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Bernard Parish Hospital) — St. Bernard Parish
CountySt. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette is owned by St. Bernard Parish government and is listed by Ochsner Health, which posts the hospital's own financial assistance policy on its financial assistance page. Ochsner's financial assistance page says help is based on family income and the federal poverty guidelines, and you may qualify for 100% financial assistance if your family income is 200% or less of the federal guidelines. Help applies to your portion of the bill, such as a deductible or copay. To apply, call 504-842-4190 or apply through MyOchsner.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Public bus (St. Bernard Transit) — St. Bernard Parish
CountySt. Bernard Transit is the parish-run bus in St. Bernard Parish. It runs one route with route deviations, Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The fare is $1.00, or $0.50 for elderly riders, riders with disabilities, and Medicare card holders. All buses have wheelchair lifts. Call (504) 277-1907.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving St. Bernard 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.
St. Bernard Council on Aging, Inc.
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (St. Bernard Council on Aging)
St. Bernard Parish Government
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Bernard Parish Government)
St. Bernard Parish Hospital (Ochsner Health)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Bernard Parish Hospital)
St. Bernard Transit, St. Bernard Parish Government
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in St. Bernard 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.