Senior benefits in Wayne County, Pennsylvania

Wayne CAO delivers PA LIHEAP (Cash + Crisis + Crisis Interface) for Wayne County residents. Same eligibility as the state program (~150% FPL). Apply through the Wayne CAO office, at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), or by calling 570-253-7118. NEPA winter heating demand is among the highest in PA — apply early in the season.

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

Wayne County emergency aid: (1) Wayne CAO for Cash Assistance / Emergency LIHEAP / Medicaid (570-253-7100); (2) Wayne AAA for senior-specific case management (570-253-4262); (3) Wayne hospital safety net (570-253-8100); (4) Wayne County Office of Transportation + Shared Ride for transportation (570-253-4280); (5) Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton (covers all 11 NEPA counties — Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan); (6) Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank (serves Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne) + United Way of Wyoming Valley; (7) Dollar Energy Fund. Dial 211 (211 NEPA) for general referrals.

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

Wayne County's principal community hospital safety net is Wayne Memorial Hospital (Honesdale, Wayne Memorial Health System, independent) is Wayne's flagship + serves Pike County (no in-county hospital). One of NEPA's remaining independent rural hospitals. 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. NEPA hospital landscape was reshaped by the 2024 LVHN acquisition of Commonwealth Health's Scranton + Wilkes-Barre hospitals — now Geisinger + LVHN dominate the region. Apply at the hospital's financial counseling office or at https://www.wmh.org/financial-assistance/. Phone: 570-251-6580 (Business Office).

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

In this county: Wayne: Wayne Memorial Hospital (Honesdale, Wayne Memorial Health System, independent) is Wayne's flagship + serves Pike County (no in-county hospital). One of NEPA's remaining independent rural hospitals. NEPA reshaped by 2024 LVHN/Commonwealth Health consolidation.

SHARE (Shared Housing and Resource Exchange) is a Pennsylvania Department of Aging program, run through the local Area Agency on Aging, that matches homeowners who want to share their home with people looking for housing. In return the home seeker helps with living expenses, household tasks, or both. At least one person in the match must be over 60, and everyone must be 18 or older. A SHARE Housing Counselor does reference and background checks, introduces matches, writes the home-sharing agreement, and stays in touch after the move. Call the Wayne County SHARE Housing Counselor at 570-817-3236.

Wayne 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 Wayne AAA at 570-253-4262 or emailing aging@waynecountypa.gov.

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

Wayne County Office of Transportation + Shared Ride covers Wayne County. Wayne County operates rural shared-ride transit (Wayne County Office of Transportation Information Services). Limited fixed-route coverage. Connections to COLTS at Lackawanna border + cross-border NY shuttle for senior medical trips. PA Senior Free Transit Program for fixed-route where available. PA Senior Shared Ride program — seniors 65+ pay 15% of the fare and the Pennsylvania Lottery Fund pays the other 85%, in every county of the state. Apply for senior fare through the local transit authority or Wayne AAA at 570-253-4262.

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