Senior benefits in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
Seniors living in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana have access to a wide range of benefit programs that can help with everyday costs, health care, and staying independent at home. The St. Bernard Council on Aging is a strong local starting point — it connects older adults and their families to services across the parish. Other local resources include Hospital Financial Assistance through St. Bernard Parish Hospital, energy bill help through the LIHEAP program offered by St. Bernard Parish Government, and rides through St. Bernard Transit. At the state level, programs like Louisiana Medicaid, the Community Choices Waiver, Long-Term Personal Care Services, Medicare Savings Programs, and LaSHIP Medicare counseling may help reduce health care costs. Louisiana also offers property tax relief through the Homestead Exemption and the Special Assessment Level freeze for qualifying homeowners 65 and older. Federal programs add even more options for food, health, and financial support. Each listing below includes its official source and the date it was last verified — the agency always makes the final eligibility decision.
4
Local programs
12
Louisiana programs
25
Federal programs
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Categories
Last verified · October 12, 2026
Local starting point
St. Bernard Council on Aging, Inc.
1-504-278-7335
See which of these St. Bernard Parish programs you may qualify for.
Discover my benefitsHelping others? Print the St. Bernard Parish 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 St. Bernard Parish
Run by the parish, its Area Agency on Aging, or another agency serving St. Bernard Parish. Start here.
Elder Services in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $200–$2,000 a year to an eligible household.
Area Agency on Aging services (St. Bernard Council on Aging) — St. Bernard Parish
County · LouisianaThe St. Bernard Council on Aging in Chalmette serves older adults in St. Bernard Parish. Services include meals at senior centers, home-delivered meals, information and assistance, legal help, outreach, recreation, transportation, wellness, and caregiver respite. Call (504) 278-7335 to ask about services. For long-term care options, the New Orleans Council on Aging runs the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for St. Bernard Parish at (504) 821-4121.
Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year
Energy Assistance in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically lower an eligible household's bills by $200–$1,600 a year.
LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Bernard Parish Government) — St. Bernard Parish
County · LouisianaThe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home cooling and heating bills. St. Bernard Parish Government in Chalmette takes applications for St. Bernard Parish. LIHEAP may help with a cooling or heating bill, a crisis bill such as a shut-off notice, or repair or replacement of a heating or cooling unit. You must be responsible for the home energy bill, and a household can get one LIHEAP benefit each season. Call 504-278-4468 to apply.
Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,600 a year
Healthcare in St. Bernard Parish
Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Bernard Parish Hospital) — St. Bernard Parish
County · LouisianaSt. Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette is owned by St. Bernard Parish government and is listed by Ochsner Health, which posts the hospital's own financial assistance policy on its financial assistance page. Ochsner's financial assistance page says help is based on family income and the federal poverty guidelines, and you may qualify for 100% financial assistance if your family income is 200% or less of the federal guidelines. Help applies to your portion of the bill, such as a deductible or copay. To apply, call 504-842-4190 or apply through MyOchsner.
Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year
Transportation in St. Bernard Parish
Programs here typically provide services worth $150–$1,500 a year to an eligible household.
Public bus (St. Bernard Transit) — St. Bernard Parish
County · LouisianaSt. Bernard Transit is the parish-run bus in St. Bernard Parish. It runs one route with route deviations, Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The fare is $1.00, or $0.50 for elderly riders, riders with disabilities, and Medicare card holders. All buses have wheelchair lifts. Call (504) 277-1907.
Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year
Local agencies serving St. Bernard Parish
Who runs the parish programs above, and how to reach them. Every line comes from a program record on this page — nothing is added that the catalog does not cite.
St. Bernard Council on Aging, Inc.
Runs: Area Agency on Aging services (St. Bernard Council on Aging)
St. Bernard Parish Government
Runs: LIHEAP energy assistance (St. Bernard Parish Government)
St. Bernard Parish Hospital (Ochsner Health)
Runs: Hospital Financial Assistance (St. Bernard Parish Hospital)
St. Bernard Transit, St. Bernard Parish Government
Louisiana and federal programs
Open to eligible households in St. Bernard Parish and across the rest of Louisiana. Full details are on the Louisiana benefits page.
Money & income2 programs
Cash paid to you, and emergency help when money runs short.
Health & Medicare costs8 programs
Medicaid, Medicare savings, and help with drug and doctor bills.
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)
- Louisiana Medicaid for people 65+, blind, or disabled (SSI and Provisional Medicaid)
- Louisiana SenioRx — free or low-cost prescription drugs
- Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
- Qualifying Individual (QI)
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
- Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Food6 programs
SNAP (food stamps), meals, and farmers market coupons.
Home, bills & taxes9 programs
Help with heating and electric bills, rent, property taxes, and home repairs.
- LIHEAP energy assistance (Louisiana)
- Homestead exemption (property tax) for Louisiana homeowners
- Special assessment level (property tax assessment freeze) for homeowners 65+, disabled, or disabled veterans
- Louisiana income tax: $12,000 retirement income exclusion for age 65+ (and exempt Social Security and public pensions)
- Federal Lifeline
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Federal Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled (IRS Schedule R)
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
- HUD Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Care at home & long-term care5 programs
Help staying in your home, nursing home alternatives, and support for family caregivers.
- Long-Term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) — Medicaid help with daily care at home
- Community Choices Waiver (CCW) — Medicaid care at home instead of a nursing home
- Family Caregiver Support — Louisiana
- PACE — Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- National Family Caregiver Support Program (OAA Title III-E)
Help, advice & legal4 programs
Free counseling, legal help, rides, and other senior services.
Veterans3 programs
Benefits for veterans and their surviving spouses.
Nearby parishes
Local programs differ from one parish to the next. If you live near a parish line, or you are helping a parent who lives in one of these, it is worth checking there too.
Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.