Senior benefits in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Lebanon CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Lebanon County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Lebanon CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 717-273-1641. Seniors age 60+ may also apply through Lebanon AAA (717-273-9262) for priority processing.

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

Lebanon County emergency aid: (1) Lebanon CAO for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (717-270-3600); (2) Lebanon AAA for senior-specific case management (717-273-9262); (3) Lebanon hospital safety net (717-272-7611); (4) Lebanon Transit Shared Ride for transportation (717-274-3514); (5) Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg (covers Dauphin + Cumberland + Lebanon + York + Lancaster + Adams + Franklin + Mifflin + Northumberland + Perry + Snyder + Union — 15-county footprint); (6) Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (regional food bank serving 27 counties — among the largest in PA); (7) Dollar Energy Fund (PA-specific utility crisis nonprofit). Dial 211 (211 South Central PA) for general referrals.

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

Lebanon County's principal community hospital safety net is WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital (Lebanon, WellSpan Health affiliate since 2015) is Lebanon's principal community hospital; Penn State Health Lebanon Clinic. Lebanon VA Medical Center serves VA-eligible seniors regionally. Each system operates a Financial Assistance Program (sliding scale typically to 300-400% FPL). Note: PA Medicaid ABD is STRICT (~$989/month), so many low-income seniors fall above Medicaid and rely on hospital FAPs. In the Susquehanna Valley, the dominant systems are Penn State Health (Hershey academic flagship), WellSpan Health (York-anchored), UPMC (statewide), Geisinger, and Penn Medicine Lancaster General. The Harrisburg metro features a distinctive 3-way Penn State / UPMC / Geisinger academic competition. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.wellspan.org/patient-resources/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance. Phone: 717-272-7611.

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

In this county: Lebanon: WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital (Lebanon, WellSpan Health affiliate since 2015) is Lebanon's principal community hospital; Penn State Health Lebanon Clinic. Lebanon VA Medical Center serves VA-eligible seniors regionally. Susquehanna Valley = Penn State Health + WellSpan + UPMC + Geisinger + Penn Medicine LG Health 5-way market.

A supervised place to spend the day, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for older adults who cannot safely be left alone. Adult day care also gives family caregivers respite and makes it possible to keep working. Cost is set on a share-of-cost fee scale based on monthly income, using the scale published by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Call the Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging at (717) 274-2801 to see whether you qualify.

In this county: This service is for someone who cannot be left unsupervised. It is not free — you pay a share of the cost on a fee scale set by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging based on monthly income. The Area Agency on Aging decides eligibility after an assessment; call (717) 274-2801.

Help with everyday personal care at home for adults age 60 and over — bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and medication reminders — provided by local agencies under contract to the Area Agency on Aging. There is also a consumer reimbursement option: if you hire your own private-duty caregiver and pay them monthly, the county reimburses up to $24.64 per hour for that private-duty service. Both options carry a share-of-cost fee scale based on monthly income. Call (717) 274-2801 to see whether you qualify.

In this county: Open to adults age 60 and over, and the amount of service is income-based. You pay a share of the cost on a fee scale set by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. The Area Agency on Aging confirms eligibility and the level of service after an assessment.

Lebanon County AAA serves seniors age 60+ and their caregivers. Services include: Title III Congregate Meals + Home-Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels); PA MEDI, formerly APPRISE (PA's SHIP — free Medicare counselling); PACE/PACENET enrollment assistance; PA Lottery-funded Senior Shared Ride transportation enrollment; Caregiver Support; Protective Services; Aging Waiver Care Management. Apply by calling Lebanon AAA at 717-273-9262 or emailing aging@lebcounty.org.

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

Lebanon Transit (LT) runs local bus routes, express buses and shared-ride vans in Lebanon County. Riders age 65 and older ride LT fixed-route buses free with a Senior Transit Card. For door-to-door trips, LT's Senior Shared Ride program serves people age 65 and older. The rider pays 15 percent of the fare and the PA Lottery Fund pays the other 85 percent. To get a Senior Transit Card, fill out the application and show proof of age. Apply in person to get the card the same day. For shared-ride questions or to book, call LT Shared Ride at 717-274-3514, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Estimated service value: $300–$2,500 a year