Senior benefits in Durham County, North Carolina

The Central Pines Regional Council Area Agency on Aging serves adults age 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers in Durham County. Most of its work is funding and supporting the local organisations that actually deliver congregate and home-delivered meals, family caregiver support and respite, and SHIIP Medicare counselling — call the Area Agency on Aging and it will point you to the provider for your county. Four services come straight from the agency itself: the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, for people living in nursing homes, adult care homes and family care homes; information and referral; options counselling for long-term care, which is private pay; and the Veteran-Directed Service Program, currently a pilot.

Estimated service value: $1,000–$6,000 a year

North Carolina's Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) gives a one-time annual payment toward heating costs (up to $600 per household), and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) helps when a household faces a heating or cooling emergency. Both are run by the Durham County Department of Social Services. Households with an older adult (60+) or a person with a disability can apply starting December 1; all other eligible households apply January 1 through March 31, or until funds run out. Apply online through ePASS at epass.nc.gov or at the county DSS office.

Estimated bill savings: $300–$1,100 a year

In this county: Durham: LIEAP gives up to $600 per program year and is income-based and first-come while funds last; the county DSS makes the final decision. Apply via ePASS (epass.nc.gov) or Durham County DSS.

Duke University Hospital in Durham is the main hospital serving Durham County. Duke Health's Financial Assistance Policy gives free or discounted care on a published sliding scale: at or below 200% of the federal poverty level the bill is written off in full, and above that the discount steps down — 90% at 225% of poverty, 80% at 250%, 70% at 275%, and 65% at 300%. IMPORTANT: North Carolina residents no longer have to apply. Duke automatically screens NC patients and deems them eligible under a state-mandated presumptive protocol, so a qualifying senior may already be covered without filling anything in. Ask the billing office to confirm your status before paying.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Durham: Duke Health gives 100% free care at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and sliding-scale discounts from 201% to 300%; transplant, experimental, elective, and fertility services are excluded.

Durham County helps low-income homeowners pay their current property tax bill. To qualify you must own a home in Durham County and have lived in it as your main home for at least the last 5 years, your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, you must not already get other state tax assistance, and you must provide the required documents. How much you get is set by a three-tier scale based on your income, and the money is paid straight to the Durham County Tax Office rather than to you. Apply online through the county's Social Services website, or call 919-560-8000 to book an appointment with an LIHR specialist who will help you fill in the application.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Two conditions this check cannot test for you. You must have owned and lived in the home as your main residence for at least the immediate preceding 5 years, and you must NOT already receive other state tax assistance — so if you already have the North Carolina elderly or disabled homestead exclusion, the circuit breaker deferment or the disabled veteran exclusion, this programme is not available on top of it. The award is a three-tier scale set by your income as a share of Area Median Income, and the county publishes no dollar figures, so no amount is shown here. Payment goes to the Tax Office, not to you. Not legal or financial advice. The county makes the final decision.

Durham County ACCESS offers door-to-door rides for eligible Durham County residents who are age 60 or older, have a disability, or live in rural areas, for medical, nutrition, work, shopping, and other needs. GoDurham ACCESS also runs a fare-free Senior Shuttle for select senior communities. GoDurham's fixed-route city buses are fare-free. Apply online or on paper and book a ride by calling 919-560-1551 or using the GoDurham ACCESS app.

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

In this county: Durham: GoDurham fixed-route buses are fare-free; ACCESS paratransit requires an eligibility application and the Senior Shuttle is free for participating communities.