Senior benefits in Garfield County, Utah

The Five County Area Agency on Aging in St. George serves older adults and caregivers in Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington counties, including Garfield County. Call the main office at 435-673-3548, extension 108. Case managers run in-home help programs, including the Medicaid Aging Waiver, the state Alternatives Program and Veteran Directed Care. The National Caregiver Support Program helps unpaid family caregivers. The Benefits Enrollment Center (extension 104) gives free help applying for Medicaid, HEAT, SNAP, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. SHIP counselors (extension 171) explain Medicare plans, and Senior Medicare Patrol helps you spot and report Medicare fraud. Other services include the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, telephone reassurance calls and volunteer programs. Meals and activities are offered at senior centers in Escalante, Henrieville and Panguitch. Call before you visit; the office may not be able to meet without an appointment.

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

HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Target) is Utah's LIHEAP program. It helps eligible households pay for heating in winter and cooling in summer. In Garfield County, Five County Community Support Services (Community Action) takes HEAT applications. Total household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, you must pay for home energy directly or through your rent, and at least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien. Older adults, people with a disability and families with children age 5 and younger get priority. Help is given once per program year, which usually runs November 1 through September 30, and it depends on available funding. Community Action may also help with water and sewer bills and utility deposits. Fill out the application, then call 435-673-3548 or email css.online@fivecounty.utah.gov to set up an appointment; there are no walk-ins. Offices are at 1070 W 1600 S in St. George and 585 N Main in Cedar City.

Estimated bill savings: $250–$800 a year

Garfield Memorial Hospital in Panguitch is part of Intermountain Health, which offers financial assistance to eligible patients who need medical care at its hospitals and clinics. Eligibility is based on family size and gross yearly household income, for incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. People with higher incomes can be reviewed for medical hardship. Emergency care is never denied to people who have no insurance or cannot pay. To apply, download the application and send it with your documents to Financial Assistance, PO Box 27327, Salt Lake City, Utah 84127, or apply in person at the hospital. Call a financial counselor at 866-415-6556. For payment plans, call 866-665-2636.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Garfield County homeowners apply for property tax relief at the county Clerk/Auditor's Office by September 1 each year. The Garfield County Clerk/Auditor's Office is at 55 South Main Street in Panguitch, open Monday through Friday. Call 435-676-1120 for the forms. Under state rules for 2026, the homeowner low-income abatement (Circuit Breaker) is for homeowners whose 2025 household income was less than $44,221, who owned and lived in the home all year, and who are at least 67 years of age, are an unmarried surviving spouse, or qualified for the credit in 2025. It can abate up to $1,412 of property tax. The indigent abatement is 50 percent of the year's tax, up to $1,412, for low-income homeowners who are 67 or older or who can show a disability or extreme hardship. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent can get an exemption of up to $535,459 of taxable value, and legally blind owners can exempt up to $11,500. Renters do not apply to the county; they file a renter credit with the Utah State Tax Commission by December 31.

Estimated bill savings: $100–$1,412 a year

The Garfield County Senior Citizen Centers in Escalante, Tropic (Bryce Valley) and Panguitch serve people 60 years of age and older. Along with lunches and activities, the centers run a monthly shuttle to Cedar City for shopping and doctor visits. Call the senior centers director at 435-826-4317, or your local center (Panguitch 435-676-2281, Bryce Valley 435-679-8666), to ask about the next shuttle date and to sign up.

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