Senior benefits in Summit County, Ohio
Seniors in Summit County, Ohio 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 services, including PASSPORT Medicaid Waiver enrollment and OSHIIP Medicare counseling. For help with heating costs, Akron Summit Community Action Inc. administers the Summit County HEAP/PIPP+ program locally. Seniors who need to get around can take advantage of reduced fares through METRO Regional Transit Authority, which serves Summit County. Hospitals including Summa Health and Cleveland Clinic Akron General offer financial assistance programs for those who qualify. Summit County Emergency Aid provides referral coordination for urgent needs. State programs like the Ohio Homestead Exemption and Ohio Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program are also available here, along with dozens of federal programs. Each listing on this page includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and 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. One of Ohio's 12 PSA AAAs (Planning and Service Areas), most of which are multi-county.
330-633-4045
See which of these Summit County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Summit 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 Summit County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Summit County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Summit County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountySummit County emergency aid: (1) Summit County Job and Family Services for Ohio Works First (TANF), Disability Financial Assistance, Emergency Assistance, Ohio Medicaid (330-643-2273); (2) Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities for senior-specific case management (330-633-4045); (3) hospital FAP for healthcare safety-net (330-375-3000); (4) Akron Summit Community Action Inc for HEAP/PIPP+; (5) Catholic Charities / Salvation Army / Society of St. Vincent de Paul; (6) regional food bank; (7) Ohio 2-1-1 for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Summit County HEAP/PIPP+ Administering Agency — Home Energy Assistance (Summit County)
CountyOhio HEAP for Summit County residents: Akron Summit Community Action Inc. is the HEAP/PIPP+/Winter Crisis administering agency for Summit 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
In this county: Summit: HEAP delivery via Akron Summit Community Action Inc. PIPP+ + Winter Crisis layer on top.
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
Summa Health (Akron, INDEPENDENT flagship) + Cleveland Clinic Akron General + Akron Children's — Financial Assistance (Summit County)
CountySummit County hospital safety net is Summit = Summa Health (Akron INDEPENDENT flagship) + Cleveland Clinic Akron General (CC affiliate since 2015) + Akron Children's. Independent vs CC competition.. 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.summahealth.org/patients-and-visitors/insurance-and-billing/financial-assistance. Phone: 330-375-6685.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Summit: Summit = Summa Health (Akron INDEPENDENT flagship) + Cleveland Clinic Akron General (CC affiliate since 2015) + Akron Children's. Independent vs CC competition.. 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 (Summit County)
CountySummit 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 AAA at 330-633-4045 or emailing info@dhad.org.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
METRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA) (Summit County)
CountyMETRO Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA) serves Summit County. METRO RTA (Akron METRO) serves Summit County. Senior fare 65+ ($0.75 vs $1.50). SCAT paratransit for ADA-eligible riders. Apply for Senior/Disabled Reduced Fare ID at METRO RTA Customer Service Center with photo ID + Medicare card.. Ohio counties operate independent transit authorities — fare structure varies. Apply at the local transit authority customer service center with photo ID + Medicare card.
$200–$2,000/yr
Ohio and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Summit 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.