Senior benefits in Buchanan County, Missouri

Young at Heart Resources (Area Agency on Aging Region 4) is the Area Agency on Aging for Buchanan County. It is the local starting point that connects older adults and caregivers to Benefits counseling (including Medicare and Medicaid counseling), congregate and home-delivered meals, active living/senior centers, in-home care, caregiving and respite support, healthy aging courses, legal assistance, long-term care ombudsman advocacy, transportation, information and assistance, community outreach, and grandparents-raising-grandchildren support. Most services are for adults 60 and older; adults with disabilities may also qualify for some services. Call 660-240-9400 (toll free 888-844-5626) to get started.

Estimated service value: $500–$6,000 a year

Missouri's Energy Assistance and Energy Crisis Intervention programs (LIHEAP) help income-eligible households in Buchanan County pay heating and cooling bills and resolve utility emergencies. The DSS Family Support Division funds the program, and Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph (CAPSTJOE) takes applications for this county. Winter and summer components run on their own seasons while funds last. Call 1-816-233-8281 to apply.

Estimated bill savings: $300–$1,000 a year

Uninsured and underinsured residents of Buchanan County can apply for financial assistance (charity care) at Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph - Medical Center for emergency and medically necessary care. Discounts are based on household size and income compared with the Federal Poverty Level. Mosaic Life Care at St. Joseph is the in-county hospital (5325 Faraon St., St. Joseph). Financial assistance page states eligibility for "Mosaic Life Care patients or guarantors with gross household income up to 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines." Apply at myMLC.com/myFinancialOptions, by calling (816) 271-4006, or in person at Enterprise Financial Counseling, 5325 Faraon Entrance 4, St. Joseph, or 2016 South Main, Maryville. NOTE: Mosaic Life Care's former domain mymlc.com no longer resolves (NXDOMAIN) and mymlc.com now redirects to an unrelated Canadian clinic; the live official site is mymlc.com.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Buchanan County has adopted Missouri's senior property tax credit (SB 190): homeowners 62 or older can freeze the real-estate tax bill on their primary home, so it stops rising in later years. Applications: Applications will be available at the County Courthouse starting March 1st, 2025, and will be accepted until June 30th, 2025. County commission news release dated 9/23/2024, titled "Buchanan County Commission Adopts Ordinance Authorizing Senior Citizen Property Tax Credit": "The Buchanan County Commission voted unanimously to authorize the Senior Citizen Homestead Property Tax Credit pursuant to a recently enacted state law (RSMo. Section 137.1050). Senior citizens who apply and are deemed eligible will see the amount owed for most of the taxes on their primary residence 'freeze' at the 2024 amount. For citizens who do not yet qualify, the amount owed will freeze in whatever year they do become eligible and apply." The release also states the credit "will not reduce the current real property tax amount owed by senior citizens or give a refund of taxes previously paid." Contacts named: Assessor Dean Wilson, Collector Peggy Campbell. County address 411 Jules Street, Saint Joseph, MO 64501. Apply through the county's program office.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$2,000 a year

St. Joseph Transit (City of St. Joseph) serves Buchanan County with Fixed-route city bus service in St. Joseph with reduced senior fares. Cash fare for seniors is $0.25; senior monthly unlimited pass is $10; senior/disabled ticket book (10 tickets) is $5. Route deviation is $0.25 and transfers are free. Discounted fares can also be bought through the Token Transit mobile app. Outside the St. Joseph city limits, OATS Transit runs Buchanan County demand-response service (Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. for local medicals, essential shopping and business errands, plus long-distance medical to Kansas City on the 2nd Tuesday of each month) at $2.00 each way with 48-hour advance reservations - see https://www.oatstransit.org/buchanan. OATS Transit is open to riders of any age — the page for this county states it is 'available to anyone regardless of age, income, disability, race, gender, religion, or national origin'. Fares are listed above; call ahead to book, as rides are scheduled in advance. Call 1-816-233-6700 for schedules, fares, or to book a ride.

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