Beaufort County, SC Senior Help Directory: Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Beaufort Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Beaufort County, SC. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.

Start here (works anywhere)

• 211 (dial 2-1-1), Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, BenefitsCheckUp.org, Medicare 1-800-633-4227, Social Security 1-800-772-1213, VA 1-800-827-1000, Alzheimer's 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900, National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-372-8311, Crisis Lifeline 988

Three local front doors: 211 | Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (the regional aging agency for Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper, part of the Lowcountry Council of Governments: Medicare counseling, family caregiver support, information and referral, ombudsman, and senior meals; 843-473-3991 or toll-free 1-877-846-8148) | Beaufort County DSS (843-255-6080)

Property tax relief (Beaufort County Auditor, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902; Homestead Exemption and general Auditor line 843-255-2500)

South Carolina's senior property tax break is the statewide Homestead Exemption, and in Beaufort County you apply for it at the County Auditor's Office. There is no NC-style June 1 deadline, you can apply any time, but apply before the tax bills go out to get the break for that year.

• South Carolina Homestead Exemption (S.C. Code Section 12-37-250): exempts the first $50,000 of fair market value of your primary residence from property taxes. To qualify, as of December 31 before the tax year you must be age 65 or older, OR totally and permanently disabled (declared by a state or federal agency), OR legally blind (certified by a licensed ophthalmologist), and a legal resident of South Carolina for the full prior calendar year. There is no income limit for this exemption. Beaufort County estimates it saves an average of about $200 a year.
• How Beaufort says to apply: the Homestead Exemption is handled by the Auditor's Office (843-255-2500). Bring proof of age (such as a driver's license or birth certificate) or proof of disability or blindness, and proof you are a South Carolina resident. You can apply in person in Beaufort or at the Bluffton office. Auditor hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with later Wednesday opening; call to confirm the current schedule and the Bluffton office hours.
• This is often confused with the Legal Residence (4 percent) special assessment, which is a separate application handled by the Assessor's Office (843-255-2400). The 4 percent legal-residence classification taxes an owner-occupied home at the lower 4 percent ratio (versus 6 percent for second homes and rentals) and includes a credit on school operating taxes, and in a high-value market like Hilton Head and Bluffton it often saves more than the Homestead Exemption itself. Ask the Assessor whether your home is correctly coded at 4 percent, and ask the Auditor about the senior Homestead Exemption. They are two different breaks and you can have both.
• Note: a bill to expand senior property tax relief was moving through the South Carolina General Assembly in early 2026. As of this writing it is a pending proposal, not current law, so the $50,000 Homestead Exemption above is the program in force. Confirm the current year's rules with the Beaufort County Auditor.

Food

• The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging funds and coordinates senior nutrition (home-delivered and group "congregate" meals) across Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties and can assess an older adult for meals and in-home help; call 843-473-3991.
• Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head delivers meals to homebound residents 60 and older (or homebound or disabled) on Hilton Head Island, in Bluffton, and the surrounding area, at no cost; call 843-802-0919.
• Senior Services of Beaufort County provides home-delivered meals and in-home help (homemaker, respite) for the northern part of the county including Beaufort, Port Royal, Burton, and St. Helena Island; call 843-524-1787.
• The Lowcountry Food Bank (a Feeding America member based in Charleston) supplies a network of partner pantries across the SC coast, including Beaufort County, and runs the Senior Box Program (Commodity Supplemental Food Program, or CSFP), a monthly box of shelf-stable staples for income-eligible seniors 60 and older. Find the pantry or senior-box site nearest you with the Find Food tool at lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food or by dialing 211.
• Local pantries and senior meals also run through HELP of Beaufort (helpofbeaufort.org), the Lowcountry Food Pantry mobile distributions (Beaufort, Bluffton, Ridgeland, Hardeeville), and Second Helpings; 211 will route you to whichever is open and nearest.
• SNAP (food stamps) is income-based, not age-based, so working families qualify too. Apply through Beaufort County DSS (843-255-6080) or online through the South Carolina DSS benefits portal. SC Thrive can help you fill out the application for free.

Energy and utility help

• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in Beaufort County is run by the Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC), the local community action agency, at 60 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort, SC 29906 (843-255-7220). LIHEAP helps with home heating and cooling costs and crisis (past-due or disconnection) situations, with priority for elderly, disabled, and young-child households. Both homeowners and renters may apply, and application windows open and close, so call to confirm they are taking applications.
• For statewide energy-assistance questions, the South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity is at 803-734-0662, and the state energy-assistance portal is energy.sc.gov.
• 211 is the fastest way to find a local crisis fund or church ministry with money for a past-due utility bill, and your utility (such as Dominion Energy South Carolina, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, or the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority) may offer its own customer assistance for past-due accounts.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

• South Carolina's SHIP program is branded I-CARE (Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders). Free, unbiased one-on-one help with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap, enrollment, appeals, and fraud. In Beaufort County, I-CARE counseling is delivered through the Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991). You can also reach the statewide line at the South Carolina Department on Aging, 1-800-868-9095, or find a counselor at GetCareSC.com. Start here before any Medicare decision.
• Medicaid in South Carolina is called Healthy Connections, run by SCDHHS. It can help pay Medicare premiums and long-term care costs for those who qualify. Apply online at apply.scdhhs.gov, by phone at 1-888-549-0820 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), or through Beaufort County DSS.
• Medicare Savings Programs (help paying Part A and B premiums) and Extra Help / the Low-Income Subsidy (lower Part D drug costs) are screened and applied for through I-CARE or Healthy Connections.
• South Carolina has no flat statewide drug-payment program, so use I-CARE to apply for Extra Help and BenefitsCheckUp.org to find manufacturer and nonprofit patient assistance programs for specific medications.

Home repair and safety

• Weatherization Assistance Program: free energy-efficiency work (insulation, air sealing, weatherstripping, and heating and cooling repair or safety fixes) at no cost to income-eligible households, with older adults, people with disabilities, and families with young children served first. For Beaufort and Jasper counties, weatherization is delivered through Palmetto Community Action Partnership (based in Charleston); call 843-720-5336 and ask about weatherization for Beaufort County. Application windows open and close, so call to confirm they are taking applications.
• USDA Section 504 Home Repair: grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62 and older to remove health and safety hazards (loans are available too) in eligible rural areas of Beaufort County, such as the areas around Sheldon, Seabrook, and St. Helena Island. Check eligibility with USDA Rural Development.
• Dial 211 for local ramp-building and accessibility-modification help from area nonprofits, and ask the Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) about minor home modifications tied to its in-home services.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

• 211 is the fastest route to temporary rent and utility help near you and will point you to whichever local ministry or fund has money right now.
• The Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission (843-255-7220) runs basic-needs, family self-sufficiency, and energy programs across Beaufort and Jasper counties.
• HELP of Beaufort (helpofbeaufort.org), local Salvation Army services, and area church ministries provide emergency assistance in the Beaufort County area; 211 can route you to whichever has funds available.
• Beaufort County DSS (843-255-6080, 1905 Duke Street, Beaufort, SC 29902) administers emergency assistance and adult protective services.

Transportation

• Palmetto Breeze (the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority, LRTA) runs buses across Beaufort, Jasper, Allendale, Colleton, and Hampton counties, and its Easy Breeze paratransit is the door-to-door, advance-reservation ride for people whose disability keeps them from using the regular buses. To apply, certify, or schedule a ride, call 843-757-5782; dispatch returns calls Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Book ahead.
• The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) and county senior programs provide rides for some older adults to senior centers, group meals, and programs; ask which trips are covered in your area.
• Residents with full Healthy Connections Medicaid and no other way to travel may qualify for free non-emergency medical transportation to covered appointments; ask Healthy Connections (1-888-549-0820) or Beaufort County DSS.

Legal help

• South Carolina Legal Services provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents on elder-law issues like powers of attorney, wills, Medicaid and public benefits, housing, consumer and finance problems, and scams. Beaufort County is served through South Carolina Legal Services (the Charleston regional office covers the Lowcountry). The statewide telephone intake line is 1-888-346-5592.
• The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) offers free benefits counseling and legal-assistance referrals for older adults, and hosts the regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman for nursing-home and assisted-living complaints.
• The South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you to a private attorney; 211 can route you there.

Caregiver support

• The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging runs the regional Family Caregiver Support Program for Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties: one-on-one support, respite, counseling, training, and help navigating services. Call 843-473-3991.
• The local home-delivered meal and in-home programs (Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head 843-802-0919, Senior Services of Beaufort County 843-524-1787) give working family caregivers some relief. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is there any hour for dementia caregiving questions.

Staying at home instead of a nursing home

• Beaufort County does not currently have a local PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) center. PACE wraps all medical care, therapy, a day center, home care, and home-delivered meals into one program for people 55 and older who meet a nursing-home level of care but can live safely at home with help, and South Carolina's PACE sites are concentrated in the Charleston area, the Midlands, and the Upstate rather than the southern coast. To ask about the nearest option or any new site, call the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) or SCDHHS.
• The main route to staying home in Beaufort County is South Carolina's Medicaid home and community based care. Healthy Connections Community Long Term Care can provide in-home personal care, adult day services, and other supports for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. Ask Healthy Connections (1-888-549-0820) or Beaufort County DSS about Community Long Term Care and the Medicaid waiver.
• The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) can help you weigh in-home options, and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can compare programs. Home-delivered meals, in-home help, and Palmetto Breeze Easy Breeze rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

My mom is 70 on Hilton Head and her property tax feels impossible. What is the one call to make? Two calls, actually. Call the Beaufort County Auditor at 843-255-2500 and ask about the South Carolina Homestead Exemption: if she is 65 or older and the home is her primary residence, the first $50,000 of fair market value comes off, with no income limit, and there is no annual deadline (but apply before bills go out). Then call the Assessor at 843-255-2400 and confirm her home is coded at the 4 percent legal-residence ratio, a separate break that in a high-value market like Hilton Head often saves even more.

Dad is homebound in Bluffton and can't cook anymore. How do we get him meals? Call Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head at 843-802-0919 for Hilton Head and Bluffton, or the Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging at 843-473-3991 to be assessed for senior meals. In the Beaufort and Port Royal area, Senior Services of Beaufort County (843-524-1787) delivers meals. If you need food sooner, find a pantry through lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food or by dialing 211.

My parent can't drive and needs rides to the doctor. What does Beaufort County offer? Palmetto Breeze Easy Breeze paratransit gives door-to-door rides to certified riders across Beaufort and the surrounding Lowcountry counties; call 843-757-5782 to apply and to book ahead. The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) can point you to senior-program rides. If your parent has full Healthy Connections Medicaid, ask about free non-emergency medical transportation at 1-888-549-0820.

We want to keep Mom at home but her care is getting complex, and there is no PACE here. What are the options? Beaufort County does not have a PACE center, so the main path is South Carolina's Medicaid home and community based care. Ask Healthy Connections (1-888-549-0820) or Beaufort County DSS about Community Long Term Care, which can bring in personal care, adult day services, and other in-home supports for someone who would otherwise need a nursing home. The Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (843-473-3991) and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can help you compare options.

Sources

• Beaufort County Auditor, Homestead Exemption for residents over 65 (843-255-2500; $50,000 reduction, average savings about $200, age and residency rules, Beaufort and Bluffton office hours): https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/news/2019/12/beaufort-county-auditor-accepting-applications-for-homestead-exemption-discount-for-residents-over-the-age-of-65.html and https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/auditor/frequently-asked-questions.html and https://beaufortcountyauditor.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/24363581492884-Qualifying-for-the-Homestead-based-on-age
• Beaufort County Assessor, Legal Residence (4 percent) special assessment (843-255-2400): https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/assessor/index.html and https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/assessor/exemptions.html
• South Carolina Department of Revenue, Exempt Property / Homestead and legal-residence assessment ratio: https://dor.sc.gov/property/exempt-property
• Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging / Lowcountry Council of Governments (634 Campground Road, Yemassee, SC 29945; 843-473-3991, 1-877-846-8148; serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper; I-CARE/SHIP, caregiver support, ombudsman, IR&A, senior meals): https://www.lowcountrycog.org/aging_and_disability_resources/ and https://www.getcaresc.com/provider/lowcountry-area-agency-aging
• Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head (843-802-0919; Hilton Head, Bluffton, and surrounding area; 60+ or homebound/disabled): https://www.mowblufftonhiltonhead.org/ and https://www.getcaresc.com/provider/meals-wheels-bluffton-hilton-head
• Senior Services of Beaufort County, home-delivered meals and in-home help for Beaufort, Port Royal, Burton, St. Helena (843-524-1787): http://hiltonheadeldercare.com/senior-services/senior-services-of-beaufort-home-based-services/
• Lowcountry Food Bank, Find Food locator and Senior Box Program / CSFP (Charleston-based, serves Beaufort County): https://lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food/ and https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/lowcountry-food-bank
• HELP of Beaufort, hunger and senior meals: https://helpofbeaufort.org/hunger-in-beaufort-county/
• Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission, LIHEAP and CSBG (60 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort, SC 29906; 843-255-7220; serves Beaufort and Jasper): https://www.energyassistance.us/li/sc_29902-0009_beaufort-jasper-economic-opportunity-commission-inc-csbg-and-liheap-programs
• Palmetto Community Action Partnership, Weatherization for Beaufort and Jasper (843-720-5336): https://palmettocap.org/weatherization/ and https://www.findhelp.org/palmetto-community-action-partnership--charleston-sc--weatherization-services/6491577996804096?postal=29906
• South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP (803-734-0662) and energy.sc.gov: https://oeo.sc.gov/managedsites/prd/oeo/liheap.html
• Palmetto Breeze / Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority, Easy Breeze paratransit (843-757-5782; serves Beaufort, Jasper, Allendale, Colleton, Hampton): https://www.palmettobreezetransit.com/contact-us and https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/lowcountry-regional-transportation-authority/index.html
• South Carolina Legal Services, statewide intake 1-888-346-5592 (Charleston regional office covers the Lowcountry): https://sclegal.org/contact-us/ and https://aging.sc.gov/programs-initiatives/legal-assistance-seniors
• Beaufort County DSS (1905 Duke Street, Beaufort, SC 29902; 843-255-6080): https://dss.sc.gov/contact-dss/lowcountry-region/beaufort/
• SCDHHS Healthy Connections Medicaid and Community Long Term Care (apply.scdhhs.gov, 1-888-549-0820): https://www.scdhhs.gov/members/getting-started
• SCDHHS PACE county availability (Beaufort not listed): https://www.scdhhs.gov/partners/managed-care/program-all-inclusive-care-elderly-pace
• South Carolina Department on Aging / SHIP-I-CARE statewide line 1-800-868-9095; GetCareSC.com: https://aging.sc.gov/programs-initiatives/medicare-and-medicare-fraud
• Verified June 29, 2026.

Verified June 29, 2026. Program names, phone numbers, income limits, and deadlines change. Confirm directly with each program before you rely on it.

Ryan Riggins, NC Real Estate License #361546, eXp Realty. Riggins Strategic Solutions is an education and media company, not a real estate sales business. Not financial, tax, medical, or legal advice. Programs and contacts change, confirm directly before relying on them.

UNVERIFIED: (1) Beaufort County Auditor general/Homestead line 843-255-2500 and the 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort address came from the official beaufortcountysc.gov Auditor news release and FAQ pages plus the separate beaufortcountyauditor.com site; Code should confirm the current Homestead application number, that the Auditor (not the Assessor) takes the Homestead application, and the Beaufort and Bluffton office locations and hours. (2) Beaufort County Assessor Legal Residence (4 percent) line 843-255-2400 is from the beaufortcountysc.gov Assessor pages; confirm. (3) Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging 843-473-3991 / 1-877-846-8148 and 634 Campground Road, Yemassee are from lowcountrycog.org and GetCareSC; confirm the current main aging line and that Beaufort I-CARE/SHIP, caregiver, ombudsman, and senior meals are delivered through this AAA. (4) Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head 843-802-0919 (mowblufftonhiltonhead.org) and Senior Services of Beaufort County 843-524-1787 are separate orgs covering different parts of the county; confirm both still operate and their service areas, and confirm which serves the family's town. (5) Beaufort-Jasper EOC LIHEAP 843-255-7220 and 60 Robert Smalls Parkway are from energyassistance.us; confirm BJEOC is the active LIHEAP intake agency for Beaufort, otherwise route through energy.sc.gov, SC OEO 803-734-0662, and 211. (6) Palmetto Community Action Partnership weatherization 843-720-5336 for Beaufort/Jasper is from palmettocap.org and findhelp; one source also listed Charleston County Human Resources 843-724-6760 as a weatherization contact, so confirm the correct current weatherization intake for Beaufort County before publishing a single number. (7) Palmetto Breeze / LRTA Easy Breeze paratransit 843-757-5782 and the five-county service area are from palmettobreezetransit.com and the county LRTA page; confirm the apply/booking number and current paratransit service description. (8) SC Legal Services serves Beaufort through the Charleston regional office; use statewide intake 1-888-346-5592 as the primary number and confirm the office that covers Beaufort before publishing any direct local line. (9) Beaufort County DSS 843-255-6080 / 1905 Duke Street is from the official dss.sc.gov Beaufort page; confirm (a related directory listed 843-255-6081 and 843-255-6199). (10) Beaufort County has no PACE site per the SCDHHS PACE county list captured this session; confirm that list is current before publishing the "no local PACE" statement. (11) The $50,000 Homestead figure and the 4 percent legal-residence relief are SC statewide law; confirm current-year and the status of the pending 2026 senior-relief expansion bill before publishing. (12) USDA Section 504 rural eligibility varies by address within Beaufort County; route through USDA Rural Development.