Senior benefits in Klamath County, Oregon

Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging (KLCCOA) is the Area Agency on Aging for Klamath and Lake counties. It helps older adults, caregivers, veterans and people with disabilities stay independent at home, with home-delivered meals and meal sites, caregiver support, Oregon Project Independence, Veteran Directed Care, home repair, and information and assistance with benefits, housing and transportation. The office is at 404 Main St., Suite 6, Klamath Falls. Call 541-205-5400.

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

Klamath & Lake Community Action Services (KLCAS) helps households in Klamath and Lake counties with electricity, natural gas and bulk fuel (wood, propane, pellets or oil) bills. KLCAS mails application packets to senior and disabled households in late October and starts taking their applications November 2; everyone else can apply starting December 1. Complete applications are handled first come, first served, so apply early. Mail applications to 2316 South Sixth Street, Suite B, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Call 541-882-3500.

Estimated bill savings: $250–$1,750 a year

Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls offers financial assistance with a sliding fee schedule based on family size and income. If your yearly income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guideline, you may not have to pay your bill. You can ask for help at any time, apply in person, by mail or by phone, and uninsured patients can get free help applying for coverage. Call the Financial Assistance Department at 541-274-6699 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Help for veterans who need a home care worker. Through Veteran-Directed Care, a disabled veteran can have family or friends become their paid caregivers. It starts with a referral from the veteran's VA physician to the VA for authorization; once the VA sends the order, KLCCOA helps set everything up. Ask the veteran's VA care team about Veteran-Directed Care, or call KLCCOA at 541-205-5400.

KLCCOA helps eligible seniors with small home repairs and modifications that make their home safer — for example, building a wheelchair ramp or repairing a home heating system. Help depends on the resources KLCCOA has available. Call 541-205-5400 to ask whether you qualify.

SSVF helps veteran households in Klamath County who have lost their housing or are at risk of losing it. A UCAN case worker meets with you one-on-one to look at your needs, make a plan, and help you get VA, Social Security and other benefits. Some households can get short-term money help to find or keep housing, depending on need. Single veterans can get help too. Call 541-956-4057 to make an appointment.

Basin Transit Service (BTS) runs Basin Lift (formerly Dial-A-Ride), door-to-door rides for people over 65 or with a disability who find it hard to use the fixed-route buses in the Klamath Falls area. Rides can be for any purpose. You must be certified first: call for an application or download the 65 & older senior application, and a decision is made within 21 days. A personal care attendant rides free. Call 541-883-2877 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

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