Senior benefits in Yolo County, California

Every California county is served by an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and an Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) — a single point of contact that connects older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities in Yolo County to in-home supportive services, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, family-caregiver support, benefits and insurance counseling (HICAP), and California's Medi-Cal home- and community-based long-term-care programs. Services are for adults 60 and older, with priority for those in greatest need. Call the Yolo County Area Agency on Aging directly at 1-800-211-4545, or reach the statewide Aging & Disability Resource Connection at 1-800-510-2020 to be connected to local services.

Estimated service value: $500–$6,000 a year

California's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households pay home heating and cooling bills, with one-time crisis help when service is past due or shut off. It is funded federally and run statewide by the California Department of Community Services & Development (CSD). In Yolo County it is delivered by the local CSD-contracted service provider; find yours with the CSD 'Find Services in Your Area' locator or the online application portal. Households generally qualify at or below 60% of the state median income; older adults and people with disabilities are prioritized. Payments usually go straight to the utility company. Apply online at CaLIHEAPApply or through your local provider.

Estimated bill savings: $94–$1,500 a year

Hospitals serving Yolo County — including Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital and Sutter Davis Hospital — must provide financial assistance under California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act. Uninsured patients (and insured patients with high medical costs) with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level qualify for charity care or discounted payment; many nonprofit systems give fully free care at lower income levels (for example, Dignity Health provides free care up to 250% of the poverty level). Eligible patients are never charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Ask any hospital's financial-counseling or billing office for its Financial Assistance Policy and application; the state's HCAI publishes every hospital's policy.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$20,000 a year

Yolo County General Assistance (GA) provides temporary relief for Yolo County residents who have exhausted all other means of support. Benefits are issued as a combination of cash, EBT, and vendor payments. For a low-income senior it is mainly a bridge while a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) claim is pending. You may be eligible if your countable income is less than $328 for one person or $556 for two people. GA recipients may be required to participate in substance-abuse treatment and/or the GA Work Program. Apply Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at Yolo HHSA office locations; the Woodland office is at 25 N. Cottonwood Street. For GA inquiries call the HHSA toll-free line at 1-855-278-1594 (1-833-744-HHSA), open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

In this county: Yolo County GA has conditions this check cannot confirm for you: you must be a Yolo County resident who has exhausted all other means of support and whose countable income is below $328 (one person) or $556 (two people). You may be required to participate in the GA Work Program and/or substance-abuse treatment. The yolocounty.gov GA page does not publish a maximum monthly grant amount. Apply at HHSA office locations M-F 8am-noon; the Woodland office is at 25 N. Cottonwood Street; HHSA line 1-855-278-1594.

YoloBus is the public bus system serving Yolo County (Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and intercity service to downtown Sacramento). Riders 62 and older qualify for reduced fares — roughly half the regular adult fare on local and intercity routes. Bring proof of age; the district also issues a reduced-fare ID for seniors and riders with disabilities. Current fare tables and reduced-fare details are on the YoloBus fares page.

Estimated service value: $200–$500 a year

YoloBus Special is the ADA complementary paratransit service for Yolo County, operating primarily within a 3/4-mile boundary around YoloBus fixed-route service. It serves riders unable to use fixed-route service due to a disability. To access paratransit, you must submit an application to determine eligibility. YoloTD provides paratransit applications in English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

In this county: YoloBus Special Paratransit eligibility is functional (disability that prevents using fixed-route YoloBus service) and is determined by YoloTD after a written application — this check cannot perform that assessment. Start by calling 1-530-666-2877.