Charleston County, SC Senior Help Directory: Charleston and Lowcountry Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Charleston 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 | Trident Area Agency on Aging (the regional aging agency for Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester: Medicare counseling, family caregiver support, information and referral, ombudsman; 843-554-2275 or 1-800-894-0415) | Charleston Area Senior Citizens / Meals on Wheels of Charleston (the local senior nonprofit: home-delivered meals and senior services; 843-722-4127)

Property tax relief (Charleston County Auditor; 101 Meeting Street, Suite 105, Charleston, SC 29401; Homestead Exemption Section 843-958-4220; general 843-958-4200)

South Carolina's senior property tax break is the statewide Homestead Exemption, and in Charleston County you apply for it at the County Auditor's Office. There is no NC-style June 1 deadline, you can apply at 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 ALL property taxes. If your primary residence is valued at $50,000 or less, it is fully exempt. 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. There is no income limit for this exemption.
• How Charleston says to apply: bring proof of age (such as a driver's license or birth certificate) or proof of disability or blindness and apply to the Auditor's Homestead Exemption Section at 101 Meeting Street, Suite 105, or call 843-958-4220 to confirm what to bring and whether you can apply by mail.
• This is often confused with the Special Assessment as Legal Residence (the 4 percent assessment ratio), which is a separate application handled by the Tax Assessor's Office. The 4 percent legal-residence classification taxes an owner-occupied home at the lower 4 percent ratio (versus 6 percent) and removes school operating taxes, and it often saves more than the homestead exemption. Ask the Assessor's Office 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 Charleston County Auditor.

Food

• Meals on Wheels of Charleston, run by Charleston Area Senior Citizens (CASC), delivers a nutritious meal plus a quick safety check and a friendly visit to homebound seniors across Charleston County, weekdays. To start home-delivered meals, call 843-722-4127.
• The Trident Area Agency on Aging funds and coordinates senior nutrition (home-delivered and congregate meals) across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties and can assess an older adult for meals, homemaker help, and personal care; call 843-554-2275 or 1-800-894-0415.
• Lowcountry Food Bank, headquartered in Charleston at 2864 Azalea Drive, Charleston, SC 29405, supplies a network of more than 200 partner pantries and senior food programs across the coastal counties, including Charleston. Use the Food Finder at lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food, call the help line at 843-747-8146 ext. 100, or dial 211 to find the pantry nearest you. Bring a photo ID.
• SNAP (food stamps) is income-based, not age-based, so working families qualify too. Apply through Charleston County DSS (843-953-9400) 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 Charleston County is run by Palmetto Community Action Partnership, the local community action agency serving Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties (and Beaufort and Jasper for weatherization only). LIHEAP helps with home heating and cooling costs and crisis (past-due or disconnection) situations, with priority for elderly, disabled, and young-child households. To schedule a LIHEAP appointment, call 1-844-769-6448. 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.
• 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 SC) 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 Charleston County, I-CARE counseling is delivered through the Trident Area Agency on Aging (843-554-2275 or 1-800-894-0415). 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 Charleston 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. In Charleston County this is run through Palmetto Community Action Partnership; call 1-844-769-6448 and ask about weatherization. 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 Charleston County, such as the rural parts of Awendaw, McClellanville, Hollywood, and Ravenel. Check eligibility with USDA Rural Development.
• Dial 211 for local ramp-building and accessibility-modification help from area nonprofits, and ask the Trident Area Agency on Aging (843-554-2275) 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.
• Palmetto Community Action Partnership (1-844-769-6448) runs basic-needs, family self-sufficiency, and energy programs in Charleston County.
• The Salvation Army of the Lowcountry, Origin SC, and local church ministries provide emergency assistance and financial counseling in the Charleston area; 211 can route you to whichever has funds available.
• Charleston County DSS (843-953-9400) administers emergency assistance and adult services.

Transportation

• CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) runs fixed-route buses across the Charleston area, and its Tel-A-Ride service is the ADA complementary paratransit for riders whose disability keeps them from using the regular buses. Tel-A-Ride covers the Charleston peninsula and portions of James Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, and North Charleston, within three-quarters of a mile of a bus route. To apply, call 843-745-4101; to book a ride once certified, call the Tel-A-Ride office at 843-747-0007 and schedule your return trip at the same time.
• CARTA also runs an on-demand microtransit (door-to-door) service that seniors and customers with disabilities can use in covered zones; ask CARTA which service fits 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 Charleston 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. The Charleston office is at 2803 Carner Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405 (local 843-720-7044; statewide intake 1-888-346-5592).
• The Trident Area Agency on Aging (843-554-2275 or 1-800-894-0415) 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 Trident Area Agency on Aging runs the regional Family Caregiver Support Program for Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties: one-on-one support, respite, counseling, training, and help navigating services. Call 843-554-2275 or 1-800-894-0415.
• Charleston Area Senior Citizens' in-home and meal services give working family caregivers some relief; ask at 843-722-4127. 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

• Charleston County has a local PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) site. BoldAge PACE serves Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties from its North Charleston center at 2801 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston, SC 29418 (854-768-0800). 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. It is for people who have Medicaid, Medicare, or can pay privately.
• The other route to staying home 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 Charleston County DSS about Community Long Term Care and the Medicaid waiver.
• The Trident Area Agency on Aging (843-554-2275) can help you weigh in-home options, and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can compare programs. Meals on Wheels of Charleston, in-home help, and CARTA Tel-A-Ride rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

My mom is 70 in Charleston and her property tax feels impossible. What is the one call to make? Call the Charleston County Auditor's Homestead Exemption Section at 843-958-4220 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 all property taxes, with no income limit. There is no annual deadline, you can apply any time, but apply before bills go out. Then ask the Assessor's Office whether her home is coded at the 4 percent legal-residence ratio, a separate break that often saves even more.

Dad is homebound in West Ashley and can't cook anymore. How do we get him meals? Call Meals on Wheels of Charleston (Charleston Area Senior Citizens) at 843-722-4127 and ask about home-delivered meals for homebound seniors. The Trident Area Agency on Aging (843-554-2275) also coordinates senior meals. If you need food sooner, the Lowcountry Food Bank network can help; use the Food Finder at lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food or dial 211.

My parent can't drive and needs rides to the doctor. What does Charleston offer? CARTA's Tel-A-Ride paratransit gives rides to ADA-certified riders across the Charleston peninsula and parts of James Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, and the islands; call 843-745-4101 to apply, then 843-747-0007 to book. CARTA also runs an on-demand door-to-door service in some zones. 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. What is the all-in-one option here? Charleston County has a PACE program: BoldAge PACE (854-768-0800) serves Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester from its North Charleston center and bundles all medical care, therapy, a day center, and home support for people 55 and older who meet a nursing-home level of care but want to stay home. If PACE is not a fit, ask Healthy Connections (1-888-549-0820) or Charleston County DSS about Community Long Term Care, South Carolina's Medicaid home and community based care.

Sources

• Charleston County Auditor, Homestead Exemption application and contact (101 Meeting Street, Suite 105, Charleston, SC 29401; Homestead Exemption Section 843-958-4220; general 843-958-4200; age 65 / disabled / blind): https://auditor.charlestoncounty.gov/HomesteadExemption and https://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/auditor/files/Homestead-Exemption-Application.pdf
• South Carolina Department of Revenue, Exempt Property / Homestead and legal-residence assessment ratio: https://dor.sc.gov/property/exempt-property
• Charleston Area Senior Citizens / Meals on Wheels of Charleston (259 Meeting Street, Charleston; 843-722-4127; home-delivered meals; serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester): https://charlestonareaseniors.org/ and https://charlestonareaseniors.org/meals-on-wheels/
• Trident Area Agency on Aging (2456 Remount Road, Suite 305-C, North Charleston, SC 29406; 843-554-2275, 1-800-894-0415; serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester; SHIP/I-CARE, IR&A, caregiver support, ombudsman): https://www.tridentaaa.org/ and https://www.getcaresc.com/provider/trident-area-agency-aging
• Lowcountry Food Bank (2864 Azalea Drive, Charleston, SC 29405; Food Finder and help line 843-747-8146 ext. 100; serves Charleston and coastal counties; 200+ partner agencies): https://lowcountryfoodbank.org/ and https://lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food/
• CARTA Tel-A-Ride ADA paratransit (peninsula plus parts of James Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, North Charleston; apply 843-745-4101; book 843-747-0007; within 3/4 mile of a route) and CARTA OnDemand microtransit: https://ridecarta.com/services/tel-a-ride/ and https://ridecarta.com/services/ondemand/
• BoldAge PACE, North Charleston (2801 Ashley Phosphate Road, North Charleston, SC 29418; 854-768-0800; serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester; age 55+ nursing-home level of care; opened fall 2024): https://boldagepace.com/north-charleston/ and https://boldagepace.com/charleston-opening/
• SCDHHS PACE county availability (Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester included): https://www.scdhhs.gov/partners/managed-care/program-all-inclusive-care-elderly-pace
• Palmetto Community Action Partnership, Charleston-area LIHEAP and weatherization (serves Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester; weatherization also Beaufort, Jasper; LIHEAP appointments 1-844-769-6448): https://palmettocap.org/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program/
• South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP (803-734-0662): https://oeo.sc.gov/managedsites/prd/oeo/liheap.html
• South Carolina Legal Services, Charleston office (2803 Carner Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405; 843-720-7044; statewide 1-888-346-5592): https://sclegal.org/locations/ and https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/organization/south-carolina-legal-services-charleston
• Charleston County DSS (3685 Rivers Avenue, Suite 101, North Charleston, SC 29405; 843-953-9400): https://dss.sc.gov/contact-dss/lowcountry-region/charleston/
• SCDHHS Healthy Connections Medicaid and Community Long Term Care (apply.scdhhs.gov, 1-888-549-0820): https://www.scdhhs.gov/members/getting-started
• 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 27, 2026.

Verified June 27, 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) Charleston County Auditor Homestead Exemption Section 843-958-4220, general 843-958-4200, address 101 Meeting Street Suite 105 came from search of the official auditor.charlestoncounty.gov pages and the Homestead application PDF, not one confirmed Auditor Homestead contact page this session; Code should confirm the current Homestead number and that applications are taken at the Auditor's Office. (2) Charleston Area Senior Citizens / Meals on Wheels of Charleston 843-722-4127 and address 259 Meeting Street are from the org site, findhelp, and Sciway; confirm the current number and that home-delivered meals cover the family's part of Charleston County. (3) Trident Area Agency on Aging 843-554-2275 / 1-800-894-0415 and address 2456 Remount Road Suite 305-C are from the AAA site, GetCareSC, and Yelp (Yelp also lists a 5895 Core Rd address); confirm the current office address and main line. (4) Lowcountry Food Bank help line 843-747-8146 ext. 100 and 2864 Azalea Drive are from the org site and findhelp; confirm the current intake line, or just route to lowcountryfoodbank.org/find-food and 211. (5) CARTA Tel-A-Ride apply 843-745-4101 and book 843-747-0007 are from ridecarta.com and findhelp; confirm both numbers and the current service-area list before naming specific islands. (6) BoldAge PACE North Charleston 854-768-0800 and 2801 Ashley Phosphate Road are from boldagepace.com (a second number 855-801-2653 also appears); this center opened in fall 2024, so confirm it is operating and still serving Charleston before publishing the "Charleston has a PACE program" statement. (7) Palmetto Community Action Partnership LIHEAP line 1-844-769-6448 and its Berkeley/Charleston/Dorchester service area are from palmettocap.org; confirm current and find the local Charleston office address if one should be named, otherwise keep it to the appointment line. (8) SC Legal Services Charleston office 2803 Carner Avenue / 843-720-7044 is from search; statewide intake 1-888-346-5592 is the crib's confirmed line, use that as primary. (9) Charleston County DSS 843-953-9400 / 3685 Rivers Avenue is from the official dss.sc.gov Charleston page plus a directory; confirm. (10) 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. (11) USDA Section 504 rural eligibility varies by address within Charleston County; route through USDA Rural Development.