Senior benefits in Portage County, Ohio
Seniors in Portage County, Ohio, and their family caregivers have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, housing costs, energy bills, transportation, and more. Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities is the local starting point for many of these programs, including PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver enrollment and OSHIIP Medicare counseling. The Community Action Council of Portage County administers HEAP and PIPP Plus energy assistance locally, and PARTA offers reduced senior fares for fixed-route and dial-a-ride transportation across the county. UH Portage Medical Center in Ravenna provides a financial assistance program for eligible patients. State programs such as the Ohio Homestead Exemption, Medicare Savings Programs, and the Ohio Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program may also be available to qualifying residents. Dozens of federal programs apply here as well. Each listing on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified. The administering agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
5
Local programs
18
Ohio programs
25
Federal programs
16
Categories
Local starting point
Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities — designated Area Agency on Aging under the Older Americans Act Title III for PSA 10B, serving Summit, Stark, Portage, and Wayne counties. One of Ohio's 12 PSA AAAs, most of which are multi-county.
330-633-4045
See which of these Portage County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Portage County 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 Portage County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Portage County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Portage County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountyPortage County emergency aid: (1) Portage County Job and Family Services for Ohio Works First (TANF), Disability Financial Assistance, Emergency Assistance, and Ohio Medicaid; (2) the Community Action Council of Portage County for HEAP/PIPP+/Winter Crisis utility help; (3) Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities for senior case management, Title III meals, and PASSPORT enrollment (330-633-4045); (4) the county hospital FAP + Ohio HCAP for healthcare safety-net; (5) Catholic Charities / Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul; (6) the regional food bank; (7) Ohio 2-1-1 for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Portage County HEAP/PIPP+ Administering Agency — Home Energy Assistance (Portage County)
CountyOhio HEAP for Portage County residents: the Community Action Council of Portage County is the HEAP/PIPP+/Winter Crisis administering agency for Portage County. Income limit: 175% FPL (~$27,930 single). Apply via energyhelp.ohio.gov, by calling 1-800-282-0880, or at the local administering agency. PIPP+ (ongoing 6%-of-income utility plan) + Winter Crisis Program (Nov-March emergency tier) layer on top.
$200–$1,500/yr
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
UH Portage Medical Center (Ravenna) — Financial Assistance (Portage County)
CountyPortage County hospital safety net: Portage = UH Portage Medical Center (Ravenna, University Hospitals) — county anchor, with Cleveland Clinic and Akron systems reaching in. Ohio's Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) requires hospitals receiving HCAP funds (essentially all Ohio acute-care hospitals) to provide basic, medically necessary hospital-level services free of charge to Ohio residents at or below 100% FPL; each hospital's own Financial Assistance Program (typically sliding to 200-400% FPL) layers above HCAP. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.uhhospitals.org/locations/uh-portage-medical-center. Phone: 330-297-0811.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Portage: Portage = UH Portage Medical Center (Ravenna, University Hospitals) — county anchor, with Cleveland Clinic and Akron systems reaching in. Ohio HCAP guarantees free basic hospital-level care at or below 100% FPL; each hospital's own FAP slides above that.
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities — Title III + OSHIIP + PASSPORT Enrollment (Portage County)
CountyPortage County AAA = Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities. Services include: Title III Congregate + Home-Delivered Meals; OSHIIP (Medicare counseling); PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver enrollment + assessment; National Family Caregiver Support Program; Ohio Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program; Long-Term Care Options Counseling. Apply by calling the AAA at 330-633-4045.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
PARTA (Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority) Senior Fare (Portage County)
CountyPARTA (Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority) — fixed-route bus service in Kent and Ravenna (including Kent State University) plus county-wide dial-a-ride. Reduced fares for riders 65+ and riders with disabilities; ADA paratransit. Ohio counties operate independent transit systems — fare structure varies. Apply for a PARTA reduced-fare ID (65+ / Medicare / disability); call 330-678-7745 for dial-a-ride.
$200–$2,000/yr
Ohio and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Portage County and across the rest of Ohio. Full details are on the Ohio benefits page.
Emergency Aid
- County Veterans Service Commission Emergency Financial Assistance (All 88 Ohio Counties)StateOfficial source →
- HEAP — Home Energy Assistance Program (Ohio)State$200–$1,500/yrOfficial source →
- PIPP Plus — Percentage of Income Payment Plan PlusState$500–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Winter Crisis Program (WCP) — Emergency Heating AidState$175–$750/yrOfficial source →
Employment
- Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Federal$15,000–$17,000/yrOfficial source →
Food Assistance
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Senior Food BoxFederal$240–$600/yrOfficial source →
- Congregate Meals at Senior CentersFederal$1,000–$2,500/yrOfficial source →
- Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels)Federal$1,500–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)Federal$35–$50/yrOfficial source →
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) for SeniorsFederal$280–$2,400/yrOfficial source →
Healthcare
- CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)Federal$3,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)FederalOfficial source →
- VA Health CareFederal$5,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) — OhioState$200–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- Ohio Medicaid — Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)State$4,000–$30,000/yrOfficial source →
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB/SLMB/QI) — OhioState$2,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- OSHIIP — Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (Medicare Counseling)StateOfficial source →
- PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver — Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources TodayState$8,000–$60,000/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)State$30,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
Housing
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)Federal$8,000–$20,000/yrOfficial source →
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the ElderlyFederal$5,000–$15,000/yrOfficial source →
Housing Assistance
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrOfficial source →
Long Term Care
Medicare Savings
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)Federal$4,000–$5,300/yrOfficial source →
- Qualifying Individual (QI)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Federal$2,435–$3,500/yrOfficial source →
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Federal$2,400–$2,435/yrOfficial source →
Nutrition
Supportive Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFederalOfficial source →
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)Federal$1,000–$5,000/yrOfficial source →
- Older Americans Act Supportive Services (Title III-B)Federal$500–$3,000/yrOfficial source →
- Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)FederalOfficial source →
- Free VA Claims Assistance from Ohio County Veterans Service OfficersStateOfficial source →
- Ohio Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled VeteransStateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)Federalup to $1,125/yrOfficial source →
- Ohio Enhanced Homestead Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans (No Income Test)State$800–$930/yrOfficial source →
- Ohio Homestead Exemption — Senior Property Tax ReductionState$200–$1,200/yrOfficial source →
Utility Assistance
- Federal LifelineFederal$111–$411/yrOfficial source →
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)Federal$3,000–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
Veteran Benefits
- VA Aid & Attendance (Improved Pension)Federal$12,000–$34,488/yrOfficial source →
Nearby counties
County programs differ from one county to the next. If you live near a county 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.