Senior benefits in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in St. Charles 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. Charles Council on Aging is a strong local starting point — it connects older adults and their families to services across the parish. Local programs also include Hospital Financial Assistance through Ochsner St. Charles Parish Hospital, energy bill help through the LIHEAP energy assistance program offered by the St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services, and affordable transportation options through the River Parishes Transit Authority. At the state level, programs like the Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, Louisiana Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and LaSHIP free Medicare counseling may be available to qualifying residents. Property tax relief through the Homestead exemption and the Special assessment level freeze can also reduce housing costs. Dozens of federal programs apply here as well. Each listing below shows its official source and the date it was last verified — the agency listed 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
St. Charles Council on Aging, Inc.
1-985-783-6685
See which of these St. Charles Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the St. Charles 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. Charles Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving St. Charles Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in St. Charles Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (St. Charles Council on Aging) — St. Charles Parish
CountyThe St. Charles Council on Aging in Luling serves older adults in St. Charles Parish. Services include meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, homemaker help, information and assistance, legal help, medical alert, personal care, transportation, and caregiver respite. Call (985) 783-6685 to ask about services. For long-term care options, the Jefferson Council on Aging runs the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for St. Charles Parish at (504) 888-5880.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in St. Charles Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services) — St. Charles Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home cooling and heating bills. St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services in New Sarpy takes applications for St. Charles 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 985-764-7944 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in St. Charles Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (Ochsner St. Charles Parish Hospital) — St. Charles Parish
CountySt. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling is part of Ochsner Health and has its own financial assistance policy, listed on Ochsner's 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. Charles Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Rural public transit (River Parishes Transit Authority) — St. Charles Parish
CountyThe River Parishes Transit Authority gives curb-to-curb, demand-response rides to the general public in St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes, Monday to Friday 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The fare is $2.00. Every bus has a wheelchair lift. Call (504) 313-0176. The St. Charles Council on Aging also gives rides to older adults and people with disabilities at (985) 783-6683.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving St. Charles 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. Charles Council on Aging, Inc.
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (St. Charles Council on Aging)
St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services)
St. Charles Parish Hospital (Ochsner Health)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (Ochsner St. Charles Parish Hospital)
River Parishes Transit Authority (RPTA)
Runs: Rural public transit (River Parishes Transit Authority)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in St. Charles 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.