DeKalb County, GA Senior Help Directory: Decatur and Atlanta Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in DeKalb County, GA. 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 | Empowerline, the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging (the metro Atlanta aging and disability resource line for Medicare counseling, meals, in-home help, caregiver support, and transportation, serving DeKalb; 404-463-3333) | DeKalb County Office of Aging, the county's own senior services line for meals and in-home help (770-322-2950)

Property tax relief (apply with the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner, 404-298-4000; the DeKalb Property Appraisal Department sets values, 404-371-0841)

Georgia is a county-driven state, and DeKalb's senior exemptions are deep, with several that wipe out the school portion of the bill entirely. Two things to know up front: in DeKalb you file homestead and senior exemptions with the Tax Commissioner's Office (dekalbtax.org), and you must already hold a basic homestead exemption before you can add a senior one. To apply online for the current tax year, file between January 1 and April 1. You can file in person year-round, but anything after the cutoff starts the next tax year. Bring proof of age (a Georgia ID or driver's license at the property address), last year's federal and state income tax returns, and any Social Security 1099.

• Basic homestead exemption (H1): any homeowner who owns and occupies the home as their primary residence on January 1, no age or income limit. It takes $12,500 off assessed value for school taxes and $10,000 off county levies (except bonds), and it is the gateway to every senior exemption below. You only file once. It is not automatic, the mortgage or closing company does not file it for you, so confirm it is on the property.
• H3 (age 62+ or 100 percent disabled non-veteran, Georgia Net Income $10,000 or less): exempt from ALL school taxes, keeps the $10,000 county exemption (except bonds).
• H4 (age 65+ or 100 percent permanently disabled, Georgia Net Income $10,000 or less): exempt from ALL school taxes and raises the county exemption to $14,000.
• H6 (age 65+, Georgia Net Income $37,500 or less): $16,500 off school taxes and $14,000 off county levies.
• H7 (age 62+, gross income $40,000 or less): cuts taxable value by $22,500 for school taxes and $10,000 for county levies (except bonds).
• H8 (age 65+, gross income $40,000 or less): $22,500 off school taxes and $14,000 off county levies.
• H9 (age 70+, Federal Adjusted Gross Income plus municipal bond income $113,664 or less): exempt from school taxes, keeps $10,000 for county levies (except bonds).
• The income trap to ask about: DeKalb's "Georgia Net Income" test is a Department of Revenue formula, not a line off your tax return. A large chunk of Social Security and retirement income is excluded before they count it (for 2026, up to $49,824 for an individual and $99,648 for a couple). So do not assume your pension and Social Security put you over the line, ask the Tax Commissioner to run the formula.
• Property Assessment Freeze: DeKalb applies a freeze on the county assessed value to every property granted a homestead exemption, which blunts future county increases. It does not touch school, city, or state taxes.
• Disabled-veteran exemption (H5): no age or income limit, $129,026 off school levies and $126,526 off all other levies for an honorably discharged veteran rated 100 percent service-connected disabled (or compensated at the 100 percent level for unemployability), transferable to an unremarried surviving spouse. A related H10 adds the full school-tax exemption for a disabled veteran who is also 65 or older with Georgia Net Income of $10,000 or less.
• City taxes are separate: Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Stonecrest, and Tucker each set their own homestead and senior breaks on the city portion, and a few (such as Decatur, Chamblee, Doraville, and Stone Mountain) require you to file with the city, not the county. When you call the Tax Commissioner, ask which city you are in and where to file the city exemption.
• The one move: call the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner at 404-298-4000, or read the Homestead Information Sheet at dekalbtax.org, and confirm before April 1 that your basic homestead plus the best senior exemption you qualify for (H3 through H9) and the assessment freeze are all on the property.

Food

• The DeKalb County Office of Aging delivers meals to homebound residents 60 and older, with diet options including low-sodium, diabetic, renal, vegetarian, and gluten-free. Start by calling the Information and Referral line at 770-322-2950, which can assess an older adult for home-delivered meals and other in-home help.
• The Atlanta Community Food Bank supplies a large network of partner pantries across DeKalb County and runs the Senior Box Program (Commodity Supplemental Food Program, or CSFP), a monthly box of nutritious staples for income-eligible seniors 60 and older. Find the pantry or senior-box site nearest you with the food-finder map at acfb.org/get-help/food-map, by calling 404-892-9822, or by dialing 211.
• SNAP (food stamps) is income-based, not age-based, so working families qualify too. Apply online at Georgia Gateway (gateway.ga.gov), by phone at 1-877-423-4746, or through your DeKalb County DFCS office.

Energy and utility help

• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) for DeKalb County is run by Partnership for Community Action (PCA), the local community action agency that also serves Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, and Walton. LIHEAP helps with home heating and cooling and with crisis (past-due or disconnection) situations, with priority for elderly and disabled households, and seniors 65 and older often get an earlier application window for heating season. PCA takes applications by appointment until funds run out. Schedule at pcaction.org, or call a PCA office (Covington Highway, 3597 Covington Hwy, Decatur, 404-537-4300). If you are medically homebound, ask PCA about its alternatives to coming in person.
• You can also find your energy-assistance agency through Georgia DFCS at dfcs.georgia.gov (search LIHEAP) or 404-657-3426, or dial 211.
• 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 Georgia Power) may offer its own customer assistance for past-due accounts.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

• Georgia's SHIP program is Georgia SHIP, long known as GeorgiaCares, run by the Division of Aging Services. Free, unbiased one-on-one help with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap, enrollment, appeals, and fraud. Call 1-866-552-4464 and select option 4, or reach it locally through Empowerline at 404-463-3333. Start here before any Medicare decision.
• Medicaid in Georgia runs through the Division of Family and Children Services. Apply online at Georgia Gateway (gateway.ga.gov), by phone at 1-877-423-4746, or at your DeKalb County DFCS office. Medicaid can help pay Medicare premiums and long-term-care costs for those who qualify.
• 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 Georgia SHIP / GeorgiaCares (1-866-552-4464, option 4) and Social Security (1-800-772-1213).
• Georgia has no general statewide drug-payment program for seniors, so use Georgia SHIP to apply for Extra Help and BenefitsCheckUp.org to find manufacturer and nonprofit patient assistance programs for specific medications.

Home repair and safety

• DeKalb County Community Development runs housing rehabilitation and home-repair help for income-eligible homeowners, addressing health and safety hazards; ask through the county or dial 211 for the current intake.
• Georgia's Weatherization Assistance Program (free insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling safety work for income-eligible households, with older adults served first) is funded through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and delivered by local community action agencies. In DeKalb that is Partnership for Community Action (pcaction.org); ask them or dial 211 for the weatherization intake.
• Dial 211 for ramp-building and other accessibility-modification help from area nonprofits, and ask the DeKalb County Office of Aging (770-322-2950) what minor home-repair or safety help it can connect you to.

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.
• Partnership for Community Action (pcaction.org) runs basic-needs, self-sufficiency, and energy programs across DeKalb County.
• The Salvation Army of Greater Atlanta, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, and area church ministries provide emergency rent, utility, and food assistance; 211 can route you to whichever has funds available.
• Your DeKalb County DFCS office administers food, cash, and Medicaid programs; apply at gateway.ga.gov or 1-877-423-4746.

Transportation

• MARTA Mobility is the ADA paratransit service for people whose disability keeps them from using regular MARTA buses and trains. It covers the parts of DeKalb County (along with the City of Atlanta and parts of Fulton and Clayton) within three-quarters of a mile of a MARTA bus route or rail station. You must apply and be certified first: call the MARTA Mobility Eligibility office at 404-848-5389 to start. Once certified, book rides through the MARTA Mobility Reservation Office at 404-848-5000.
• The DeKalb County Office of Aging provides transportation tied to its senior services and programs; ask the Information and Referral line at 770-322-2950 what is available in your area.
• Georgians with full Medicaid and no other way to travel may qualify for free non-emergency medical transportation to covered appointments; ask your Medicaid plan or DFCS.

Legal help

• Georgia Senior Legal Aid (the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline) gives free legal advice, brief service, and referrals to any Georgian 60 and older and their families, on issues like powers of attorney, wills, Medicaid and public benefits, housing, consumer problems, and scams. Call 404-389-9992 or toll-free 1-888-257-9519.
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society provides free civil legal help to lower-income residents of metro Atlanta, including a strong elder-law practice; the DeKalb County office is at 246 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA 30030, 404-377-0701.
• Empowerline / the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging (404-463-3333) runs the Elderly Legal Assistance Program for older adults and can refer you to the right legal aid program.

Caregiver support

• Empowerline / the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging runs the Family Caregiver Support Program for the metro Atlanta region: one-on-one support, respite, counseling, training, and help navigating services. Call 404-463-3333.
• The DeKalb County Office of Aging (770-322-2950) offers caregiver support and care-transition help, and its home-delivered meal program gives 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

• Georgia does not yet have an operating PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program, though the state is working to launch PACE. 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. To ask whether a PACE site has opened in metro Atlanta, call Empowerline (404-463-3333) or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116).
• The main route to staying home in DeKalb today is Georgia's Medicaid home and community based care: the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE provide in-home personal care, adult day health, home-delivered meals, and other supports for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. Empowerline (404-463-3333) screens for these, and you can also ask your DeKalb County DFCS office.
• The Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can help you compare programs. Home-delivered meals, in-home help, and MARTA Mobility rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

My mom is 67 in Decatur and her school taxes are killing her. What is the one call to make? Call the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner at 404-298-4000 and ask which senior homestead exemption she qualifies for. If her income is modest, she may qualify for an exemption that wipes out the school portion of her bill entirely (DeKalb's H3 and H4 do exactly that at the lowest income tiers, and H6, H7, H8, and H9 give graduated breaks at higher incomes). She must already hold a basic homestead exemption first, and the cutoff to count for the current year is April 1. Important: their "Georgia Net Income" test excludes a large share of Social Security and retirement income (up to $49,824 for an individual or $99,648 for a couple in 2026), so do not assume she makes too much, ask them to run the formula.

Dad is homebound in Tucker and can't cook anymore. How do we get him meals? Call the DeKalb County Office of Aging Information and Referral line at 770-322-2950, which can assess him for home-delivered meals and other in-home help. If you need food sooner, find a pantry at acfb.org/get-help/food-map or by dialing 211, and ask about the Atlanta Community Food Bank senior box (CSFP) for income-eligible seniors 60 and older.

My parent can't drive and needs rides to the doctor in DeKalb. What is available? If a disability keeps your parent from using regular MARTA, apply for MARTA Mobility paratransit by calling the eligibility office at 404-848-5389; once certified, book rides at 404-848-5000. It serves the parts of DeKalb (and Atlanta, Fulton, and Clayton) within three-quarters of a mile of a MARTA route or station. The DeKalb County Office of Aging (770-322-2950) also offers rides tied to its senior programs.

We want to keep Mom at home but her care is getting complex, and there is no PACE in Georgia yet. What are the options? Georgia's PACE program is still being launched, so the main path today is Georgia Medicaid home and community based care: the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE can bring in personal care, adult day health, home-delivered meals, and other in-home supports for someone who would otherwise need a nursing home. Empowerline (404-463-3333) screens for these, and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can help you compare options.

Sources

• DeKalb County Tax Commissioner, 2026 Homestead Exemption Information (404-298-4000; basic homestead H1 $12,500 school / $10,000 county; senior exemptions H3 through H9 with income limits and school/county breakdowns; Georgia Net Income retirement exclusion for 2026 of $49,824 individual / $99,648 joint; disabled-veteran H5 $129,026 school / $126,526 other; Property Assessment Freeze; file by April 1): https://dekalbtax.org/property-tax/exemptions/ and https://dekalbtax.org/wp-content/uploads/homestead-exemption-information.pdf
• DeKalb County Property Appraisal Department (sets values; assessment notices; 404-371-0841): https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/property-appraisal
• Georgia Department of Revenue, statewide property-tax homestead exemptions: https://dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions
• Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging / Empowerline (404-463-3333; ADRC, SHIP, meals, caregiver, legal, transportation for metro Atlanta including DeKalb): https://empowerline.org/about/ and https://aging.georgia.gov/locations/atlanta-regional-commission-area-agency-aging
• DeKalb County Office of Aging (1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030; Information and Referral 770-322-2950; home-delivered meals, in-home services, transportation, caregiver support): https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/human-development/office-aging-0 and https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/senior-services/services
• Georgia SHIP / GeorgiaCares, 1-866-552-4464 option 4: https://aging.georgia.gov/georgia-ship
• Atlanta Community Food Bank, food-finder map and CSFP Senior Box (404-892-9822): https://www.acfb.org/get-help/food-map/ and https://www.acfb.org/partner-resources/csfp-partner/
• Partnership for Community Action (PCA), LIHEAP and weatherization for DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton, Walton (Covington Hwy office 404-537-4300; pcaction.org): https://pcaction.org/get-support/utility-assistance/energy-assistance-heating/ and https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/human-development/partnership-community-action
• Georgia DFCS, LIHEAP / energy assistance (404-657-3426): https://dfcs.georgia.gov/services/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap
• Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) Weatherization Assistance Program: https://gefa.georgia.gov/weatherization-assistance-program
• MARTA Mobility ADA paratransit (eligibility 404-848-5389; reservations 404-848-5000; serves DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton, and the City of Atlanta within 3/4 mile of a route or station): https://itsmarta.com/marta-mobility.aspx
• Georgia Senior Legal Aid / Senior Legal Hotline, 60+ statewide (404-389-9992 / 1-888-257-9519): https://www.georgialegalaid.org/organization/georgia-senior-legal-hotline and https://aging.georgia.gov/tools-resources/elderly-legal-assistance-program
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society, DeKalb County office (246 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA 30030; 404-377-0701): https://atlantalegalaid.org/contact-2/ and https://www.statesidelegal.org/atlanta-legal-aid-society-inc-alas-dekalb
• Georgia Medicaid (Georgia Gateway gateway.ga.gov, 1-877-423-4746) and DeKalb County DFCS: https://medicaid.georgia.gov/how-apply and https://dhs.georgia.gov/locations/dekalb-county-dfcs
• Georgia PACE status (in development; not yet operating) and Medicaid CCSP / SOURCE home and community based care: https://dch.georgia.gov/programs/program-all-inclusive-care-elderly-pace-updates

Verified June 30, 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.