Senior benefits in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Seniors living in Fayette County, Pennsylvania have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, energy costs, prescription drugs, property taxes, and more. The Fayette County Area Agency on Aging is the local starting point for many of these services, including free Medicare counseling through APPRISE and connections to programs under the Older Americans Act. The Fayette County Assistance Office handles local delivery of LIHEAP energy assistance for residents who need help with heating costs. For getting around, FACT (Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation) offers free fixed-route bus service for adults 65 and older, plus shared-ride options for essential trips. Highlands Hospital and Uniontown Hospital both offer financial assistance programs for qualifying patients. State programs such as the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, PACE/PACENET, and Community HealthChoices may also apply. Federal programs add even more options. 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
16
Pennsylvania programs
25
Federal programs
15
Categories
Local starting point
Fayette County Area Agency on Aging — designated AAA under the Older Americans Act Title III for Fayette County; one of 52 AAAs in Pennsylvania.
724-430-4500
See which of these Fayette County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Fayette 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 Fayette County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Fayette County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Fayette County Assistance Office (CAO) — LIHEAP Energy Assistance Delivery (Fayette County)
CountyFayette CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Fayette County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Fayette CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 724-430-1287.
$200–$1,500/yr
Fayette County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountyFayette County emergency aid: (1) Fayette CAO for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (724-430-1287); (2) Fayette AAA for senior-specific case management (724-430-4500); (3) Fayette hospital safety net (724-628-1500); (4) FACT (Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation) for transportation (724-628-7433); (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie (covers NCPA counties — Clarion + Jefferson + Clearfield + Forest + Elk + Cameron) or Diocese of Pittsburgh (Greene/Fayette/Indiana/Somerset); (6) Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank or Second Harvest NW PA; (7) Dollar Energy Fund. Dial 211 for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
Highlands Hospital + Uniontown Hospital (Wheeling Hospital) — Financial Assistance (Fayette County)
CountyFayette County's principal community hospital safety net is Highlands Hospital (Connellsville, independent — historically state-affiliated) + Uniontown Hospital (Uniontown, WVU Medicine since 2020) — Fayette's two principal community hospitals. Tertiary referrals route to UPMC Pittsburgh or WVU Medicine Morgantown.. Each system operates a Financial Assistance Program (sliding scale typically to 300-400% FPL). Note: PA Medicaid ABD is STRICT (~$989/month). SW rural PA hospital landscape: Penn Highlands Healthcare anchors NCPA (DuBois academic flagship), UPMC has Somerset + Bedford, Independence Health has Clarion, WVU Medicine extends cross-border into Fayette + Greene. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.phhealthcare.org/patients-visitors/financial-assistance-program. Phone: 724-628-1500.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Fayette: Highlands Hospital (Connellsville, independent — historically state-affiliated) + Uniontown Hospital (Uniontown, WVU Medicine since 2020) — Fayette's two principal community hospitals. Tertiary referrals route to UPMC Pittsburgh or WVU Medicine Morgantown.. SW rural PA = Penn Highlands (NCPA) + UPMC (Somerset) + Independence Health (Clarion) + WVU Medicine cross-border (Fayette/Greene) + independent Indiana Regional.
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Fayette County Area Agency on Aging — Title III + APPRISE Medicare Counseling (Fayette County)
CountyFayette County AAA serves seniors age 60+ and their caregivers. Services include: Title III Congregate Meals + Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels); APPRISE (PA's SHIP — Medicare benefits counseling); PACE/PACENET enrollment assistance; PA Lottery-funded Senior Shared Ride enrollment; Caregiver Support; Protective Services; Aging Waiver Care Management. Apply by calling AAA at 724-430-4500 or emailing aging@fayettepa.org.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $300–$2,500 a year to an eligible household.
FACT (Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation) (Fayette County)
CountyFACT (Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation) covers Fayette County. Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) operates fixed-route bus across Uniontown + Connellsville + commuter routes. PA Senior Free Transit Program FREE for age 65+ on fixed-route. Senior Shared Ride for essential trips. Connections to PRT at Pittsburgh + cross-border WV transit.. PA Senior Shared Ride program — funded by PA Lottery, age 65+ pays $1-3 per essential trip. Apply for senior fare through the local transit authority or Fayette AAA at 724-430-4500.
$300–$2,500/yr
Pennsylvania and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Fayette County and across the rest of Pennsylvania. Full details are on the Pennsylvania benefits page.
Emergency Aid
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 →
- Pennsylvania Medical Assistance for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (Non-MAGI MA)State$4,000–$50,000/yrOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania Medicare Savings Programs (QMB / SLMB / QI / SLMB-1)State$2,098–$8,000/yrOfficial source →
- PACE + PACENET — Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the ElderlyState$500–$4,000/yrOfficial source →
Home Care
- Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) — Pennsylvania's PACE ProgramState$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 →
- Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (PTRR)State$380–$1,000/yrOfficial source →
Income Support
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Federal$11,928–$17,892/yrOfficial source →
Long Term Care
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the ElderlyFederal$6,000–$40,000/yrOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania Community HealthChoices (CHC)State$20,000–$80,000/yrOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania State Veterans Homes (Long-Term Care)StateOfficial source →
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 →
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 →
- Pennsylvania County Directors of Veterans Affairs (Free Benefits and Claims Help)StateOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania Disabled Veteran Fishing License (Free or Reduced Fee)StateOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania Disabled Veteran Hunting License (Free or $2.97)StateOfficial source →
Tax Relief
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 →
- Pennsylvania Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans' Pension ($150 per Month)State$1,800/yrOfficial source →
- Pennsylvania Blind Veterans' Pension ($150 per Month)State$1,800/yrOfficial source →
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.
