Senior benefits in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with healthcare, food, energy costs, and daily living. A good local starting point is the St. Mary Council on the Aging, part of the Cajun Area Agency on Aging region, which connects residents to services and support. St. Mary Parish Public Transit offers transportation options for those who need help getting around, and St. Mary Community Action Agency administers local LIHEAP energy assistance to help with utility bills. Seniors who need medical care but cannot afford it may want to look into Hospital Financial Assistance through Ochsner St. Mary. At the state level, programs like Louisiana Medicaid, the Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, Medicare Savings Programs, and the Homestead exemption may also be available. Free Medicare counseling is offered through LaSHIP. Federal programs add even more options. Each program listed on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and the administering 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
St. Mary Council on the Aging (Cajun Area Agency on Aging region)
1-337-907-6310
See which of these St. Mary Parish programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the St. Mary 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. Mary Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving St. Mary Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in St. Mary 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 / St. Mary Council on the Aging) — St. Mary Parish
CountyThe St. Mary Council on the Aging serves older adults in St. Mary 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 613 Second Street, Franklin. Call 337-907-6310 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 St. Mary Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Mary Community Action Agency) — St. Mary Parish
CountyThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In St. Mary Parish, the Louisiana Housing Corporation lists St. Mary Community Action Agency as the local LIHEAP provider. Crisis help is available if a household has a disconnect or pending disconnection notice. Call 337-828-5703 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in St. Mary Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (Ochsner St. Mary) — St. Mary Parish
CountyOchsner St. Mary in Morgan City 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 St. Mary Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Public transit (St. Mary Parish Public Transit) — St. Mary Parish
CountySt. Mary Parish Public Transit gives demand-response rides to the general public in St. Mary Parish, with medical trips to Iberia and Terrebonne parishes. Trips reach medical facilities, stores, jobs, meal sites, the senior center, and dialysis centers, in lift-equipped vehicles. Service runs 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Fares are $4.00 - $5.00 one way. Call (337) 828-5703.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving St. Mary 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. Mary Council on the Aging (Cajun Area Agency on Aging region)
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (Cajun Area Agency on Aging / St. Mary Council on the Aging)
St. Mary Community Action Agency
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Mary Community Action Agency)
Ochsner St. Mary (Ochsner Health)
St. Mary Community Action Agency (St. Mary Parish Public Transit)
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in St. Mary 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.