Senior benefits in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Delaware CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Delaware County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Delaware CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 610-447-3099. Seniors age 60+ may also apply through Delaware AAA (610-490-1300) for priority processing. Application window typically November-April.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,500 a year

Delaware County emergency aid: (1) Delaware County Assistance Office (CAO) for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (610-447-5500); (2) Delaware AAA for senior-specific case management (610-490-1300); (3) hospital financial assistance — Crozer-Chester Medical Center closed in May 2025, so ask Riddle Hospital (Main Line Health) or Mercy Fitzgerald (Trinity Health) about their Financial Assistance Programs; (4) SEPTA Senior Reduced Fare / SEPTA Access for transportation (215-580-7800); (5) Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which covers Delaware County; (6) Philabundance, the regional food bank. Dial 211 (211 Southeastern PA) for general referrals.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$3,000 a year

Hospital financial assistance (charity care) for Delaware County residents at the two hospitals still operating in the county. Riddle Hospital (Media, Main Line Health): household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level qualifies for 100% free care; 300% to 500% of FPL qualifies for an 86% discount; uninsured patients above 500% still get 60% off inpatient and 40% off outpatient and emergency department charges (ED hospital charges capped at $1,700 out of pocket). Apply online through MyChart, by mail to Main Line Health, Attn: Financial Assistance, 3803 West Chester Pike, Suite 160, Newtown Square, PA 19073, or by dropping the application at any Main Line Health cashier's office; questions to 484-337-1970. Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital (Darby, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic): income at 200% of FPL or less qualifies for a 100% discount on medically necessary services; 200% to 400% of FPL qualifies for a partial discount equal to the Medicare discount rate; a catastrophic-cost discount applies when medical expenses for an episode of care exceed 20% of household income. Apply with the application on trinityhealthma.org (https://www.trinityhealthma.org/patients-visitors/billing-insurance/financial-assistance) or through a financial counselor in the hospital's patient access department; Trinity Health Patient Financial Services 800-494-5797. Both programs cover emergency and medically necessary care only; both ask uninsured patients to be screened for Medicaid first. Note: PA Medicaid for aged/disabled adults has a strict income line, so many low-income suburban seniors fall above Medicaid and rely on hospital financial assistance. Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital closed in April 2025 and no longer accept patients.

Estimated bill savings: $500–$30,000 a year

In this county: Delaware County: Riddle Hospital (Media, Main Line Health) serves central and western Delaware County; Mercy Fitzgerald (Darby, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic) serves the eastern border with Philadelphia; ChristianaCare's Aston neighborhood hospital (opened June 2026) covers the lower county. Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital closed in April 2025 — do not send patients there. The income screen here is a 200%-FPL convention; Riddle's program reaches 500% FPL and Mercy Fitzgerald's 400% FPL, so residents above the screen may still qualify for a discount. PA Medicaid ABD strict — many seniors fall above the Medicaid line and rely on hospital FAP.

Delaware County AAA serves seniors age 60+ and their caregivers. Services include: Title III Congregate Meals (at senior centers) + Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels); PA MEDI, formerly APPRISE (PA's SHIP — free Medicare counselling); PA Department of Aging Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act outreach; Caregiver Support; Protective Services (elder abuse investigations); Aging Waiver Care Management (community-based long-term services); PACE/PACENET enrollment assistance. Apply by calling Delaware AAA at 610-490-1300 or emailing cosa@delcohsa.org.

Estimated service value: $1,500–$6,000 a year

SEPTA Reduced Fare for Seniors gives PA residents age 65+ FREE rides on SEPTA buses, subway, trolley, and Norristown High Speed Line (with a Senior Reduced Fare PA ID). Regional Rail offers a $1 fare for seniors. SEPTA serves Delaware (Chester, Upland, Folsom, Springfield, Drexel Hill, Lansdowne, Wallingford, Media via Regional Rail Wilmington/Newark Line + Bus + Media-Sharon Hill Trolley). Senior Reduced Fare FREE bus/subway/trolley, $1 Regional Rail; SEPTA Access paratransit. SEPTA Access (renamed from CCT Connect on 2024-07-01; vehicles are still lettered CCT Connect) is SEPTA's ADA paratransit. Apply for the Senior Reduced Fare PA ID at any PA Department of Aging office, or get a SEPTA Key Senior at SEPTA's Center City office (1234 Market Street, Philadelphia). SEPTA Access: apply for eligibility assessment at 215-580-7700.

Estimated service value: $800–$3,500 a year