Senior benefits in Bledsoe County, Tennessee

Help for grandparents and other relatives who are raising a child related to them by blood or marriage. The Relative Caregiver Program is a one-stop place for information, referrals, and support that helps keep children with relatives and out of state custody. Services include case management and family advocacy (for example, going with you to custody hearings or school IEP meetings), support groups and workshops for relative caregivers, support groups for children and teens, recreation and limited respite for the children and caregivers, and emergency one-time financial or start-up help. Call 1-866-735-8752 for more information or to make a referral.

The Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD), part of the Southeast Tennessee Development District, is the aging and disability resource point for Bledsoe County. As a one-call access point, it connects older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities to in-home care, home-delivered and group meals, transportation, caregiver support, benefits counseling, the OPTIONS in-home program, and long-term-care help. Services are for adults 60 and older and for adults with disabilities, with priority for those in greatest need. Call 1-866-836-6678.

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

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay heating and cooling bills for lower-income households. In Bledsoe County, LIHEAP is delivered by the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency (SETHRA); the program is funded through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Help is income-based. Apply through the local SETHRA office at 423-949-2191, or dial 2-1-1 Tennessee for a referral.

Estimated bill savings: $174–$750 a year

Bledsoe County has no in-county acute-care hospital. Erlanger Health in Chattanooga is a public academic health system that serves Southeast Tennessee, including Pikeville and Bledsoe County. Erlanger offers charity care and discounted care based on family income and assets. In 2025, households at or below 204% of the federal poverty level qualified for free care and those at or below 322% for discounted care. Financial counselors help at 423-778-9805.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Cross-county: Bledsoe County residents are served by Erlanger Health in Chattanooga. Charity care is income-based (2025 basis: free at or below 204% FPL, discount at or below 322%); each application is reviewed, so this shows as may-qualify.

SETHRA operates curb-to-curb, demand-response rural public transit in Bledsoe County. There are no fixed routes; rides are booked ahead by phone for medical visits, shopping, senior centers, and other trips. Older riders and riders with disabilities can get reduced fares. Senior-center vans are also available through the Area Agency on Aging and Disability. Call 423-949-2191 to schedule a ride.

Estimated service value: about $0 a year