Senior benefits in Perry County, Pennsylvania
Seniors living in Perry County, Pennsylvania have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with health care, energy costs, prescriptions, transportation, and more. The Perry County Area Agency on Aging is the local starting point for older adults and their families. It connects residents to services under the Older Americans Act and offers free Medicare counseling through APPRISE. Because Perry County has no in-county hospital, the local safety net relies on facilities in the Cumberland County corridor, including UPMC West Shore and Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. Getting to those facilities may be easier through rabbittransit, which serves communities like Duncannon, Newport, and New Bloomfield — and rides are free for adults 65 and older through the PA Senior Free Transit Program. State programs such as the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, PACE/PACENET, and Pennsylvania LIHEAP may also help reduce everyday costs. Federal programs add even more options. Each listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified, and the administering agency makes all final eligibility decisions.
5
Local programs
16
Pennsylvania programs
25
Federal programs
15
Categories
Local starting point
Perry County Area Agency on Aging — designated AAA under the Older Americans Act Title III for Perry County; one of 52 AAAs in Pennsylvania.
717-582-5128
See which of these Perry County programs you may qualify for.
Find my benefitsHelping others? Print the Perry 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 Perry County
Run by the county, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving Perry County. Start here.
Emergency Aid
Programs here are typically worth $200–$3,000 a year to an eligible household.
Perry County Assistance Office (CAO) — LIHEAP Energy Assistance Delivery (Perry County)
CountyPerry CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Perry County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Perry CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 717-582-2127.
$200–$1,500/yr
Perry County Emergency Aid — Referral Coordination
CountyPerry County emergency aid: (1) Perry CAO for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (717-582-2127); (2) Perry AAA for senior-specific case management (717-582-5128); (3) Perry hospital safety net (717-763-2100); (4) rabbittransit (Perry County service) for transportation (717-846-7433); (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg (15-county footprint includes Adams + Franklin + Perry + Juniata + Mifflin + Huntingdon + Bedford); (6) Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (27-county central PA regional food bank); (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.
Perry County Referral Safety Net — UPMC West Shore + Penn State Holy Spirit + Geisinger Holy Spirit (Cumberland) (Perry County)
CountyPerry County's principal community hospital safety net is Perry County has NO HOSPITAL in-county. Residents access UPMC West Shore (Cumberland) for community hospital needs; Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center (Cumberland, since 2023 Geisinger-to-PennStateHealth transfer) for additional access; Penn State Hershey for tertiary.. Each system operates a Financial Assistance Program (sliding scale typically to 300-400% FPL). Note: PA Medicaid ABD is STRICT (~$989/month). South Central rural PA hospital landscape: WellSpan dominates Adams + Franklin; UPMC has Bedford; Penn Highlands has Huntingdon (J.C. Blair, 2020); Geisinger has Mifflin (Lewistown, 2017); Fulton + Perry + Juniata have no in-county hospitals (referral pattern). Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.pennstatehealth.org/patients-visitors/billing-medical-records/financial-assistance. Phone: 717-763-2100.
$500–$30,000/yr
In this county: Perry: Perry County has NO HOSPITAL in-county. Residents access UPMC West Shore (Cumberland) for community hospital needs; Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center (Cumberland, since 2023 Geisinger-to-PennStateHealth transfer) for additional access; Penn State Hershey for tertiary.. SC rural PA = WellSpan (Adams/Franklin) + Penn Highlands (Huntingdon) + UPMC (Bedford) + Geisinger (Mifflin) + 3 counties with no in-county hospital (Fulton/Perry/Juniata).
Nutrition
Programs here are typically worth $1,500–$6,000 a year to an eligible household.
Perry County Area Agency on Aging — Title III + APPRISE Medicare Counseling (Perry County)
CountyPerry 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 717-582-5128 or emailing aging@perryco.org.
$1,500–$6,000/yr
Transportation
Programs here are typically worth $300–$2,500 a year to an eligible household.
rabbittransit (Perry County service) (Perry County)
Countyrabbittransit (Perry County service) covers Perry County. rabbittransit serves Perry County (Duncannon, Newport, New Bloomfield). Commuter routes to Harrisburg (Dauphin) + Susquehanna River corridor. PA Senior Free Transit Program FREE for age 65+. No in-county fixed-route hub; mostly shared-ride.. 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 Perry AAA at 717-582-5128.
$300–$2,500/yr
Pennsylvania and federal programs
Open to eligible households in Perry 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.