Senior benefits in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Seniors in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, energy costs, prescription drugs, housing expenses, and more. The Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging is the local starting point for many of these services, including Title III support programs and free APPRISE Medicare counseling to help you understand your coverage options. Seniors who need help paying energy bills can connect with the Lebanon County Assistance Office, which delivers LIHEAP energy assistance locally. Getting around is easier with rabbittransit, which offers free rides to eligible seniors age 65 and older through Pennsylvania's Senior Free Transit Program. WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and Penn State Health Lebanon both offer financial assistance programs for those who qualify. State programs such as PACE/PACENET, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, and Pennsylvania Medicare Savings Programs may also reduce costs significantly. 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 makes the final eligibility determination.
7
Local programs
16
Pennsylvania programs
25
Federal programs
15
Categories
Local starting point
Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging, the designated Area Agency on Aging for Lebanon County; adult day services are delivered by Avenues under contract to the AAA.
(717) 274-2801
See which of these Lebanon County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Lebanon 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 Lebanon County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Lebanon County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Lebanon County Assistance Office (CAO) — LIHEAP Energy Assistance Delivery (Lebanon County)
CountyLebanon CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Lebanon County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Lebanon CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 717-272-3781. Seniors age 60+ may also apply through Lebanon AAA (717-273-9262) for priority processing.
$200–$1,500/yr
Lebanon County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountyLebanon County emergency aid: (1) Lebanon CAO for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (717-272-3781); (2) Lebanon AAA for senior-specific case management (717-273-9262); (3) Lebanon hospital safety net (717-272-7611); (4) rabbittransit (formerly Lebanon Transit) + Shared Ride for transportation (717-273-1611); (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg (covers Dauphin + Cumberland + Lebanon + York + Lancaster + Adams + Franklin + Mifflin + Northumberland + Perry + Snyder + Union — 15-county footprint); (6) Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (regional food bank serving 27 counties — among the largest in PA); (7) Dollar Energy Fund (PA-specific utility crisis nonprofit). Dial 211 (211 South Central PA) for general referrals.
$200–$3,000/yr
Healthcare
Programs here are typically worth $500–$30,000 a year to an eligible household.
WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital + Penn State Health Lebanon — Financial Assistance (Lebanon County)
CountyLebanon County's principal community hospital safety net is WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital (Lebanon, WellSpan Health affiliate since 2015) is Lebanon's principal community hospital; Penn State Health Lebanon Clinic. Lebanon VA Medical Center serves VA-eligible seniors regionally.. Each system operates a Financial Assistance Program (sliding scale typically to 300-400% FPL). Note: PA Medicaid ABD is STRICT (~$989/month), so many low-income seniors fall above Medicaid and rely on hospital FAPs. In the Susquehanna Valley, the dominant systems are Penn State Health (Hershey academic flagship), WellSpan Health (York-anchored), UPMC (statewide), Geisinger, and Penn Medicine Lancaster General. The Harrisburg metro features a distinctive 3-way Penn State / UPMC / Geisinger academic competition. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.wellspan.org/patient-resources/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 717-272-7611.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Lebanon: WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital (Lebanon, WellSpan Health affiliate since 2015) is Lebanon's principal community hospital; Penn State Health Lebanon Clinic. Lebanon VA Medical Center serves VA-eligible seniors regionally.. Susquehanna Valley = Penn State Health + WellSpan + UPMC + Geisinger + Penn Medicine LG Health 5-way market.
Home Care
Adult Day Care Services (Lebanon County)
CountyA supervised place to spend the day, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for older adults who cannot safely be left alone. Adult day care also gives family caregivers respite and makes it possible to keep working. Cost is set on a share-of-cost fee scale based on monthly income, using the scale published by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Call the Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging at (717) 274-2801 to see whether you qualify.
In this county: This service is for someone who cannot be left unsupervised. It is not free — you pay a share of the cost on a fee scale set by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging based on monthly income. The Area Agency on Aging decides eligibility after an assessment; call (717) 274-2801.
In-Home Personal Care & Consumer Reimbursement (Lebanon County)
CountyHelp with everyday personal care at home for adults age 60 and over — bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders — provided by local agencies under contract to the Area Agency on Aging. There is also a consumer reimbursement option: if you hire your own private-duty caregiver and pay them monthly, the county reimburses up to $24.64 per hour for that private-duty service. Both options carry a share-of-cost fee scale based on monthly income. Call (717) 274-2801 to see whether you qualify.
In this county: Open to adults age 60 and over, and the amount of service is income-based. You pay a share of the cost on a fee scale set by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The Area Agency on Aging confirms eligibility and the level of service after an assessment.
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging — Title III + APPRISE Medicare Counseling (Lebanon County)
CountyLebanon 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 transportation enrollment; Caregiver Support; Protective Services; Aging Waiver Care Management. Apply by calling Lebanon AAA at 717-273-9262 or emailing aging@lebcounty.org.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $300–$2,500 a year to an eligible household.
rabbittransit (formerly Lebanon Transit) + Shared Ride (Lebanon County)
Countyrabbittransit (formerly Lebanon Transit) + Shared Ride covers Lebanon County. rabbittransit (absorbed Lebanon Transit 2018) operates fixed-route bus in the Lebanon city + commuter routes to Hershey (Dauphin) and Harrisburg. PA Senior Free Transit Program FREE for age 65+. Connections to Lancaster via Red Rose Transit at the county border.. PA also runs the 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 Lebanon AAA at 717-273-9262.
$300–$2,500/yr
Pennsylvania and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Lebanon 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.
