Senior benefits in Travis 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.

The Travis County HHS Basic Needs program is the broader emergency safety net administered by Travis County Health and Human Services through its SIX Community Centers across Travis County. The program supplements the BCECD CEAP (tx.travis.travis_hhs_ceap) for households whose needs extend beyond utility emergencies. Services typically include: (1) emergency rental assistance for Travis County residents facing imminent eviction; (2) utility assistance for households not eligible for or already maxed out on CEAP; (3) food assistance and SNAP application support; (4) referrals to broader Travis County safety-net resources. Travis County's distributed Community Center model means applicants can access Basic Needs intake at the Community Center closest to their home — a meaningful operational benefit for elderly Travis County residents who can't easily travel across Austin's traffic. Community Center locations include Manor Community Center (east Travis), Pflugerville Community Center (north Travis), Del Valle Community Center (southeast Travis), and others. The program is APPROPRIATIONS-LIMITED — Travis County Commissioners Court sets the annual funding level. Apply by calling Travis County HHS at 512-854-4100 or visiting your nearest Community Center. For senior-specific case management coordination, AAACAP's Aging and Disability Resource Center (855-937-2372) provides a parallel pathway designed for older adults.

$200–$2,500/yr

In this county: Travis County HHS Basic Needs is APPROPRIATIONS-LIMITED — Travis County Commissioners Court sets the annual funding level, and funds can exhaust mid-fiscal-year. The DISTRIBUTED Community Center model is genuinely operational — applicants can use any of the 6 centers across Travis County. The 200% FPL income gate is conservative editorial modeling — actual sliding-scale thresholds may vary by program. For Travis County seniors needing ongoing long-term services (in-home personal care, adult day care), the pathway is STAR+PLUS Medicaid (see state-level tx.star_plus) — Travis County Basic Needs is short-term emergency-only. For senior-specific case management, AAACAP's ADRC (855-937-2372) is the parallel senior pathway.

Travis County Health and Human Services and Veterans Service (HHS) is the direct TDHCA-contracted Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) subrecipient for Travis County — a BoCC department delivery model parallel to Dallas's DCHHS and Bexar's BCECD. Travis County HHS operates a DISTRIBUTED intake model through SIX Community Centers across Travis County (more decentralized than peer counties' single-office intake), making the program more geographically accessible. CEAP provides utility bill assistance, deposit assistance, and energy crisis assistance to low-income Travis County households. Eligibility is set at 150% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines ($23,940/year single 2026). Senior-headed households receive application priority. Travis County HHS also offers AUTOMATIC LIHEAP QUALIFICATION for households already enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or SSI — bypassing the standalone income verification step. The program is YEAR-ROUND (12 months) rather than seasonal. Apply through the Travis County HHS application portal at traviscountytx.gov/health-human-services/apply-for-assistance/utility-assistance — the pre-screening tool confirms eligibility before directing applicants to the full application. Alternatively, visit any of the six Travis County Community Centers (locations including the Manor Community Center, Pflugerville Community Center, Del Valle Community Center, and others) where staff can assist with the application in person.

$200–$1,600/yr

In this county: Travis County HHS CEAP is DISTINCTIVE among modeled TX counties in two ways: (1) DISTRIBUTED INTAKE via 6 Community Centers across Travis County (vs single-office models at Harris/Dallas/Bexar); (2) AUTOMATIC LIHEAP CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY for SNAP/TANF/SSI recipients — bypassing the standalone income verification. The year-round (12-month) program structure means applications are accepted throughout the year, not just during designated seasonal windows. The 150% FPL income gate is the TDHCA-statewide standard. Austin Energy (the city's municipally-owned utility) serves most Travis County residents; Pedernales Electric Cooperative serves rural/suburban areas. For Travis County seniors who don't qualify for CEAP, Travis County HHS Basic Needs (separate program at the same 6 Community Centers) provides additional emergency aid.

Central Health is the Travis County Healthcare District — a special taxing district approved by Travis County voters in 2004 — operating as Travis County's public hospital safety net. Unlike Harris County's Harris Health, Dallas County's Parkland, or Bexar County's University Health (which directly operate hospitals), Central Health primarily FINANCES and CONTRACTS healthcare delivery through partner systems: Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas (Travis County's primary public hospital partner) and a network of community health clinics. The Medical Access Program (MAP) is Central Health's principal financial assistance program — providing healthcare coverage to UNINSURED Travis County residents with income AT OR BELOW 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. MAP and MAP Basic eligibility is based on income received in the LAST 30 DAYS (more current-state than annual-income-based programs). Applicants must NOT be eligible for or enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare AND must NOT have private insurance. MAP covers primary care, specialty care, hospital inpatient and outpatient, emergency care, prescription drugs, behavioral health, and dental at the contracted Central Health partner network. To apply, call Central Health at 512-978-8130, option 1 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or visit centralhealth.net/map. The 200% FPL threshold matches Parkland Dallas and University Health Bexar — more generous than Harris Health Houston (150% FPL).

$1,500–$55,000/yr

In this county: Central Health's structure is DISTINCTIVE among Texas public hospital districts — unlike Parkland (Dallas), University Health (Bexar), and Harris Health (Houston) which directly OPERATE hospitals, Central Health primarily FINANCES and CONTRACTS healthcare delivery through Dell Seton Medical Center and partner clinics. This contractor model means MAP enrollees access care at a network of CONTRACTED providers, not at a single Central Health-owned facility. The 200% FPL income gate matches Parkland Dallas and University Health Bexar; more generous than Harris Health Houston (150% FPL). The LAST-30-DAYS income basis is more current-state than annual-income programs — recent income changes (job loss, retirement, disability onset) qualify a household quickly without waiting for annual recertification. Travis County residency is RIGOROUSLY VERIFIED; non-residents (Williamson, Hays, Bastrop counties) do not qualify. MAP enrollees MUST be uninsured AND not eligible for Medicaid/Medicare — Medicare-eligible Travis seniors typically do NOT qualify for MAP since Medicare eligibility itself disqualifies them. Lower-income Medicare-eligible Travis seniors should pursue the Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) instead.

The Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area (AAACAP) is the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for a 10-county Central Texas region centered on Austin/Travis County, operated as a division of the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG). Serving the region since 1982, AAACAP covers Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis, and Williamson counties — much broader than the single-county AAA models in Harris (Houston-only), Dallas (Dallas-only), and Bexar (Bexar-only). The AAACAP Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of the Capital Area provides comprehensive information and referral to older adults, persons with disabilities, families, and caregivers — including specialized expertise on applying for State of Texas long-term services and supports (LTSS) program benefits like STAR+PLUS HCBS. AAACAP's Benefits Counseling Program provides State of Texas HICAP/SHIP-certified Medicare Benefits Counselors who answer questions about Medicare health care coverage, Medicare Advantage options, prescription drug coverage, and Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI). Other services include Title III congregate meals at senior centers across the region, Home-Delivered Meals for homebound seniors age 60+, Care Coordination, Caregiver Support including respite, and In-Home Support. Eligibility is age 60+ and residency in the 10-county AAACAP service area. Family caregivers and grandparent caregivers age 55+ raising grandchildren are also eligible. Call AAACAP at 855-937-2372 (Statewide Texas AAA line) or email ADRCCAP@capcog.org. Local office: 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165, Austin TX 78744.

$1,500–$5,000/yr

In this county: AAACAP's 10-county service area is BROADER than the single-county AAAs in Harris, Dallas, and Bexar — Travis County seniors share AAACAP infrastructure with seniors in 9 surrounding counties including some very different communities (rural Llano, suburban Williamson). This may translate to longer wait times for some services. AAACAP is the standard Texas regional-COG AAA model — operated by CAPCOG, the Capital Area Council of Governments (similar to AACOG's Bexar AAA, but covering more counties). The Statewide Texas AAA line (855-937-2372) routes to the appropriate regional AAA based on the caller's county. For long-term services (in-home personal care beyond AAACAP's short-term help), the pathway is STAR+PLUS Medicaid (see state-level tx.star_plus) — AAACAP's ADRC team helps Travis County seniors navigate this transition.

Capital Metro (CapMetro) is the regional transit authority serving Austin and most of Travis County, operating MetroBus, MetroRapid bus rapid transit, MetroRail (the Red Line commuter rail to Leander), MetroExpress commuter bus service, and CapMetro Access ADA paratransit. CapMetro offers HALF-PRICED FARE on all services for riders age 65 and older. To activate the senior discount, apply for a CapMetro Reduced Fare ID Card — valid for TWO YEARS — by presenting a valid government-issued ID, Texas photo ID, or Texas driver's license at a CapMetro Customer Service location. Seniors age 65+, Medicare card holders of any age, active-duty military personnel, and persons with qualifying disabilities all qualify for the same Reduced Fare ID Card. CapMetro Access is the ADA paratransit complement to fixed-route service, providing curb-to-curb shared-ride service within 3/4 of a mile of CapMetro's regular fixed-route services. CapMetro Access eligibility is FUNCTIONAL-ABILITY-BASED per the ADA — being age 65+ does not automatically qualify a rider; the presence of a disability or health condition by itself does not make a person eligible. Apply for CapMetro Access at 512-852-7272 (Access Customer Service) or 512-389-7475 (Access Eligibility).

$400–$3,000/yr

In this county: CapMetro's senior half-fare benefit is automatic for any senior age 65+ who presents the required proof of age and obtains the Reduced Fare ID Card. status_ceiling=likely_qualifies because no income test or discretionary review applies. CapMetro's age 65+ threshold is standard for Texas (matches METRO Houston, DART Dallas; slightly older than Bexar VIA's age 62+ threshold). The Reduced Fare ID Card's 2-YEAR validity is operationally convenient — peer transit systems often require annual renewal. CapMetro Access is a SEPARATE ADA-based eligibility process — being 65+ does NOT automatically grant Access eligibility; functional inability to use fixed-route service within 3/4 mile is the standard. Access service area is geographically constrained — Travis County residents who live more than 3/4 mile from any CapMetro fixed route do NOT qualify for Access paratransit (even with documented disability).

Emergency financial aid toward a City of Austin utility bill for residential customers who are having a temporary problem paying — after a serious illness, a job loss, or another emergency. The money is not applied for at Austin Energy: partner social service agencies screen applicants, decide eligibility, and pledge the funds directly to the customer's utility account. Older adults and people with disabilities in the Austin service area can start with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Capital Area at 855-937-2372, which is a Plus 1 partner; other partner agencies are listed at FinancialSupportPlus1.com. Some agencies serve only their existing clients or certain ZIP codes. Questions or trouble reaching an agency: billhelp@austinenergy.com or 512-494-9400.

In this county: You must be a City of Austin utility customer, and only a partner agency can approve and pledge Plus 1 funds — the ADRC is one such partner. Funding is limited and meant for a temporary crisis, not ongoing bill relief. City of Austin utilities also serve a few addresses outside Travis County; call 855-937-2372 if you are an Austin utility customer elsewhere.