Senior benefits in Bastrop County, Texas

Helps offset the cost of a break for an unpaid family caregiver. The Lifespan Respite Grant Program pays toward respite care for a person of any age with special needs, a disability, or a chronic condition — in the home through a home care agency, at an adult or child day-care center, through community activities, or at a camp — when the caregiver has difficulty finding respite and the care receiver is not already enrolled in another government or nonprofit respite program or a Medicaid waiver. Funding is limited and approved case by case. Contact the ADRC of the Capital Area at 855-937-2372 or adrc@capcog.org.

Bastrop County operates a referral-and-coordination emergency aid model. The county does not run a single integrated direct-aid program at scale (appropriate for a smaller county); instead it coordinates with: (1) the CEAP nonprofit subrecipient for utility assistance (call 979-540-2987); (2) AAACAP for senior services (855-937-2372); (3) the Bastrop County CIHCP for healthcare (512-581-7170); (4) faith-based partners (Salvation Army, Catholic Charities of Central Texas, local churches). Dial 211 for general emergency aid referrals.

$100–$1,800/yr

Bastrop County's CEAP is delivered through Combined Community Action (CCA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Austin, Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Lee counties. The agency provides utility bill payment assistance for electric, gas, and propane bills; energy crisis assistance for shutoffs; and energy education. Eligibility at 150% FPL. Apply at https://www.ccaction.com/family-services or by calling 979-540-2987.

$200–$1,600/yr

The Bastrop County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP) is required by Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 61 (the County Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act of 1985) because Bastrop County does not maintain a public hospital district. The CIHCP provides medical and prescription drug coverage for eligible low-income Bastrop County residents who don't qualify for other state or federal healthcare programs. Eligibility typically requires: Bastrop County resident age 18+; household income less than 21% of the Federal Poverty Level (the Texas statutory minimum); not eligible for or receiving Medicaid. Services typically cover: physician services, lab and x-ray, three prescriptions per month, inpatient and outpatient hospital services. Maximum liability is $30,000 per fiscal year (September 1 - August 31) or 30 days of inpatient hospital days. St. David's Bastrop is the primary partner hospital. Apply at Bastrop County Courthouse, 804 Pecan Street, Bastrop TX 78602 or by calling 512-581-7170.

$1,500–$25,000/yr

In this county: The 21% FPL gate is the Texas statutory minimum — extremely strict. Only Bastrop residents at or near SSI income levels qualify. St. David's Bastrop is the practical hospital partner. For Bastrop residents above 21% FPL, the dominant private hospital's own Patient Financial Assistance Program (typically at 200% FPL) is the broader pathway.

AAACAP serves Bastrop County seniors as part of its 10-county Central Texas region. Services include Title III congregate meals, Home-Delivered Meals for homebound seniors age 60+, Care Coordination, Caregiver Support, In-Home Support, Benefits Counseling (HICAP/SHIP Medicare counseling), and ADRC of the Capital Area. Bastrop is a smaller CAPCOG county so meal site density is lower than in Travis or Williamson; the local senior center serves as the practical hub. Apply by calling AAACAP at 855-937-2372 or emailing ADRCCAP@capcog.org.

$1,200–$4,500/yr

CARTS serves Bastrop County with Country Bus demand-response paratransit and Interurban Coach scheduled regional bus service connecting Bastrop, Smithville, Elgin to Austin and other CARTS district cities. Seniors AGE 65+ ride for HALF PRICE on all services. Bastrop County's CARTS service uses ~60 mini-buses and vans operating across the 9-county district. Apply for CARTS senior fare ID at a local CARTS station or by calling 512-478-7433.

$200–$2,000/yr