Senior benefits in Uintah County, Utah

In Uintah County, the state aging division lists the Uintah County Council on Aging at the Golden Age Center as the local aging office. The center is at 330 South Aggie Blvd. in Vernal, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and serves lunch at noon. Call 435-789-2169 to ask about senior meals, activities and other help for people 60 and older. Area Agencies on Aging in Utah run home and community-based services for residents 60 and older so they can stay independent. The Uintah Basin Association of Governments in Roosevelt, which serves Duchesne, Daggett and Uintah counties, also has a Medicare counselor (SHIP) at 435-722-4518.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Target) is Utah's year-round energy assistance program for eligible low-income households, paid for by the federal LIHEAP program. To qualify, total household income must be at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, the household must pay its own home energy costs, it must have at least one adult, and at least one member must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. The program year runs October 1 to September 30, or until federal LIHEAP funds run out. In Uintah County, UBAOG takes HEAT applications online, by mail, or at an office appointment at the Vernal HEAT office (374 E Main St, Suite C, on the main floor of the Vernal City Municipal Center); call 435-781-2021. After your appointment you have 10 days to turn in any missing papers. The Department of Workforce Services sends a letter with the benefit amount, which is paid to your utility. HEAT households may also get extra help from Moon Lake Electric, Enbridge Gas or Rocky Mountain Power programs.

Estimated bill savings: $250–$800 a year

Ashley Regional Medical Center in Vernal reviews patients for special financial consideration (charity care) on hospital bills. Fill out the Special Financial Consideration Application completely and attach the papers it asks for: a full signed copy of your federal tax return with all schedules, pay stubs for the last three months, and any other papers that back up what you report. The hospital checks the information and makes a decision. Return the application to Ashley Regional Medical Center, 150 West 100 North, Vernal, UT 84078. For questions, call 435-781-6859.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: The hospital decides who gets special financial consideration and how much; the application does not publish income limits.

Uintah County homeowners apply for Utah's property tax relief programs through the Uintah County Clerk/Auditor’s office in Vernal. Under the state's 2026 rules, the Homeowner Low-income Abatement (formerly called Circuit Breaker) can lower property tax on an owner-occupied home by up to $1,412, based on income, plus an extra credit. It is for owners whose 2025 household income was under $44,221 and who are 67 or older, are an unmarried surviving spouse, or qualified in 2025. The county's low-income (indigent) abatement can cut the tax in half, up to $1,412, for low-income owners who are 67 or older or who have a disability or extreme hardship. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent, and legally blind owners, can get exemptions, and owners 75 and older may be able to defer their taxes. Applications are due to the county by September 1. Call 435-781-5361. If you got an abatement last year, the county mails you a new application by mid-November. Renters 66 or older (or an unmarried surviving spouse) with 2025 income under $44,221 can get a Renter Credit of up to $1,412 from the Utah State Tax Commission; apply at tap.utah.gov by December 31.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$1,412 a year

The Basin Transit Association (BTA) is the public bus system for the Uintah Basin, open to everyone. Routes run from Vernal to Roosevelt and around Vernal on the Vernal Loop. Buses run Monday through Friday all year, except on listed holidays, and all buses are wheelchair accessible. Regular fixed-route fares are currently suspended. People with disabilities who cannot get to a bus stop can schedule curb-to-curb Call-A-Ride paratransit 24 hours ahead for $2.00 per one-way trip, within 3/4 mile of a fixed-route stop. For ADA paratransit approval, call BTA at 435-722-5221 or 435-722-4518. Utah Relay: dial 711.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year