Senior benefits in Lauderdale County, Mississippi

The East Central Planning and Development District (ECPDD) is the Area Agency on Aging for Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott and Smith counties, including Lauderdale County. Its aging services include congregate meals, emergency response, home delivered meals, homemaker services, information and referral, legal assistance, the long-term care ombudsman, outreach, respite, SHIP Medicare counseling, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), transportation, and Matter of Balance and Walk with Ease classes. ECPDD also provides case management for the Medicaid Elderly and Disabled Waiver. The mailing address is P. O. Box 499, Newton. Call (601) 683-2007.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

Multi-County Community Service Agency (Multi-County CSA) takes LIHEAP applications for Lauderdale County. Its Lauderdale County office is at 2906 Saint Paul St., Meridian. Phone: (601) 483-4838. LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps pay home energy bills, and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) helps in an energy emergency. A household typically qualifies with income at or below 60% of the state median income for its size and an energy bill due. Households with elderly or disabled members get priority. To apply, submit a pre-application online through the Common Web Portal on Access MS and mark "Community Services". The agency will then send you an appointment to finish the application in person; if you are elderly or disabled, expect the appointment within 30 business days. The yearly benefit can be up to $1,500.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,500 a year

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) county office for Lauderdale County is at 5224 Valley St. Phone: 601-483-3337. Email: dfo.lauderdalecounty@mdhs.ms.gov. MDHS runs SNAP, which gives monthly food benefits on an EBT card to people with low income, including older adults and people with disabilities. If everyone in the household is 65 or older and no one earns money from work, MDHS uses a shorter form, the SNAP Simplified Application for the Elderly (ESAP, form MDHS EA 904). People who get SSI may get SNAP through the Mississippi Combined Application Project (MSCAP). Contact the county office to ask what documents to send with your application. Medicaid for older adults is handled by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, not MDHS.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center, at 2124 14th Street, Meridian, is part of Baptist Memorial Health Care and follows Baptist's Hospital Financial Assistance Policy for emergency and medically necessary care. For uninsured patients, the discount is based on family size and income compared with the Federal Poverty Guidelines: income under 200% gets a 100% discount (free care), 201-250% gets 95%, 251-300% gets 90%, 301-350% gets 85%, and 351-400% gets 80%. Patients with insurance who owe a large amount from one visit may also get help. Fill out the Baptist Financial Assistance Application and return it with proof of income to the Business Office of the hospital where you got care. Call the hospital at 601-553-6000 and ask for the Business Office. Meridian's other large hospital, Ochsner Rush, has its own policy.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Rural public transit in Lauderdale County is part of MDOT's EZTAG regional transit group. Rides here are provided by Philadelphia Transit, and Choctaw Transit (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians), which serves the City of Meridian. These are demand-response rides you schedule ahead, open to the general public, and used by seniors and people with disabilities to get to doctor's appointments, the grocery store and other places. Many vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Call the EZTAG regional group at 601-650-7429 or 601-650-7484 to find the provider for your area and ask about fares and how to book.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year