Horry County, SC Senior Help Directory: Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Horry 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 | Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (the regional aging agency for Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg, part of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments: Medicare counseling, family caregiver support, information and referral, ombudsman; 843-546-8502) | Horry County Council on Aging (the local senior nonprofit: home-delivered meals, senior centers, and senior transportation, based in Conway; 843-248-5523 or 1-800-922-6283)

Property tax relief (Horry County Auditor; P.O. Box 1205, Conway, SC 29526; Homestead Exemption 843-915-5051; general Auditor line 843-915-5050)

South Carolina's senior property tax break is the statewide Homestead Exemption, and in Horry 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 Horry says to apply: the Homestead Exemption is handled by the Auditor's Office. Bring proof of age (such as a driver's license or birth certificate) or proof of disability or blindness. You can apply in person at the Conway main office (1301 Second Avenue, Suite 1C41), Little River (107 Highway 57 North), Myrtle Beach (1201 21st Avenue North), or South Strand (9630 Scipio Lane, Suite K, Myrtle Beach). Offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 843-915-5051 to confirm what to bring.
• This is often confused with the Special Assessment as Legal Residence (the 4 percent assessment ratio), which is a separate application handled by the Assessor's Office (843-915-5040). 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 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 Horry County Auditor.

Food

• Horry County Council on Aging (HCCOA) delivers home-delivered meals to homebound seniors across the county and runs ten senior centers with congregate (group) meals: Aynor, Bucksport, Carolina Forest, Conway, Enterprise Burgess, Grand Strand, Green Sea, Mt. Vernon-Loris, North Strand, and South Strand. To start meals or find your nearest senior center, call 843-248-5523 or 1-800-922-6283.
• Meals on Wheels of Horry & Georgetown County, Inc. is a separate local nonprofit that delivers meals to homebound residents across both counties; call 843-970-2330 to ask about eligibility and your area.
• The Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging funds and coordinates senior nutrition (home-delivered and congregate meals) across Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg counties and can assess an older adult for meals and in-home help; call 843-546-8502.
• Harvest Hope Food Bank serves the Pee Dee region (including Horry) through a network of partner pantries and senior food programs from its Florence branch (843-661-0826). To find the pantry nearest you, use the Get Help tool at harvesthope.org/get-help or dial 211. Bring a photo ID.
• SNAP (food stamps) is income-based, not age-based, so working families qualify too. Apply through Horry County DSS (843-366-1600) 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 Horry County is run by the Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council (WEOC), the local community action agency serving Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg counties. LIHEAP helps with home heating and cooling costs and crisis (past-due or disconnection) situations, with priority for elderly, disabled, and young-child households. WEOC runs LIHEAP and weatherization from two separate suites at the same Conway address: LIHEAP (energy bill help) is at 1261 Highway 501, Suite D, Conway, SC 29526 (843-234-4130), and Weatherization is at Suite C-1 (843-234-4140). Call the LIHEAP number for a past-due or disconnection bill and the weatherization number for insulation and heating repair. 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 Santee Cooper, Duke Energy, or Horry Electric Cooperative) 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 Horry County, I-CARE counseling is delivered through the Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502). 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 Horry 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 Horry County this is run through the Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council; call the weatherization office at 843-234-4140. 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 Horry County, such as the areas around Loris, Aynor, Green Sea, and Nichols. Check eligibility with USDA Rural Development.
• Dial 211 for local ramp-building and accessibility-modification help from area nonprofits, and ask the Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502) 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 Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council runs basic-needs, family self-sufficiency, and energy programs across Horry, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties; LIHEAP 843-234-4130, weatherization 843-234-4140.
• The Salvation Army of Horry County and local church ministries such as Churches Assisting People (CAP) in Conway provide emergency assistance in the Horry County area; 211 can route you to whichever has funds available.
• Horry County DSS (843-366-1600) administers emergency assistance and adult services.

Transportation

• Coast RTA (Coastal Rapid Public Transit Authority) runs fixed-route buses across the Myrtle Beach and Conway area, and its Paratransit service is the door-to-door, advance-reservation ride for people whose disability keeps them from using the regular buses. Paratransit covers areas of Horry and Georgetown counties within three-quarters of a mile of a Coast RTA fixed route. You must be pre-qualified and certified. To apply or schedule a ride, call 843-488-0865. Reservations must be made in advance, so call as early as you can, and call at least two hours ahead if you need to cancel. The Coast RTA office is at 1418 3rd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526.
• The Horry County Council on Aging (843-248-5523) provides senior transportation to its centers, to meals, and to some appointments; 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 Horry 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 Conway office serves Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg counties and is at 1201 B Creel Street, Wing A-1, Conway, SC 29527. The statewide intake line is 1-888-346-5592, answered by a lawyer or paralegal from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The Conway office can also be reached directly at 843-381-8182 or 1-866-597-0100. Household income generally must be at or under 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
• The Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502) 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 Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging runs the regional Family Caregiver Support Program for Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg counties: one-on-one support, respite, counseling, training, and help navigating services. Call 843-546-8502.
• The Horry County Council on Aging's in-home and meal services give working family caregivers some relief; ask at 843-248-5523. 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

• Horry 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 serve Anderson, Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Dorchester, Greenville, Lexington, Orangeburg, Pickens, and Richland counties, none of them on the Grand Strand. If you want 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 Horry 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 Horry County DSS about Community Long Term Care and the Medicaid waiver.
• The Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502) 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 Coast RTA Paratransit rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

My mom is 70 in Myrtle Beach and her property tax feels impossible. What is the one call to make? Call the Horry County Auditor at 843-915-5050 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 (843-915-5040) whether her home is coded at the 4 percent legal-residence ratio, a separate break that often saves even more.

Dad is homebound in Conway and can't cook anymore. How do we get him meals? Call the Horry County Council on Aging at 843-248-5523 and ask about home-delivered meals for homebound seniors, or Meals on Wheels of Horry & Georgetown County at 843-970-2330. The Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502) also coordinates senior meals. If you need food sooner, find a local pantry through harvesthope.org/get-help or by dialing 211.

My parent can't drive and needs rides to the doctor. What does Horry County offer? Coast RTA Paratransit gives door-to-door rides to certified riders within three-quarters of a mile of a Coast RTA bus route across parts of Horry and Georgetown counties; call 843-488-0865 to apply and to book, as far ahead as you can. The Horry County Council on Aging (843-248-5523) also offers senior transportation. 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 option here if there is no PACE? Horry 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 Horry 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 Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (843-546-8502) and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can help you compare options.

Sources

• Horry County Auditor, Homestead Exemption (P.O. Box 1205, Conway, SC 29526; Homestead 843-915-5051; general Auditor 843-915-5050; offices Conway 1301 Second Ave Ste 1C41, Little River 107 Hwy 57 N, Myrtle Beach 1201 21st Ave N, South Strand 9630 Scipio Ln Ste K; Mon-Fri 8-5): https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/auditor/
• Horry County Assessor, Legal Residence (4 percent) special assessment (1301 Second Avenue, Conway, SC 29526; 843-915-5040): https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/assessor/
• South Carolina Department of Revenue, Exempt Property / Homestead and legal-residence assessment ratio: https://dor.sc.gov/property/exempt-property
• Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging / Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments (1230 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, SC 29440; 843-546-8502; serves Georgetown, Horry, Williamsburg; Medicare counseling, caregiver support, long-term care ombudsman): https://wrcog.org/aging_services/index.php
• Horry County Council on Aging (PO Box 1693, Conway, SC 29528; 843-248-5523; ten senior centers: Aynor, Bucksport, Carolina Forest, Conway, Enterprise Burgess, Grand Strand, Green Sea, Mt. Vernon-Loris, North Strand, South Strand; home-delivered meals and transportation): https://hccoa.org/
• Meals on Wheels of Horry & Georgetown County, Inc. (843-970-2330; serves Horry and Georgetown): https://mowhc.org/
• Harvest Hope Food Bank, Pee Dee branch serving Horry (2701 Alex Lee Boulevard, Florence, SC 29506; 843-661-0826; partner-pantry network; Get Help tool): https://www.harvesthope.org/get-help and https://www.harvesthope.org/about/locations
• Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council, LIHEAP (1261 US 501, Suite D, Conway, SC 29526; 843-234-4130) and Weatherization (Suite C-1; 843-234-4140); serves Horry, Georgetown, Williamsburg: https://www.findhelp.org/provider/waccamaw-economic-opportunity-council-inc--conway-sc/4510033360453632
• South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP (803-734-0662) and energy.sc.gov: https://oeo.sc.gov/managedsites/prd/oeo/liheap.html
• Coast RTA Paratransit (apply and book 843-488-0865; serves areas of Horry and Georgetown counties within 3/4 mile of any Coast RTA fixed route; advance reservation required, cancel at least 2 hours ahead): https://coastrta.com/paratransit-service/program-details-and-application/
• South Carolina Legal Services, Conway office (1201 B Creel Street, Wing A1, Conway, SC 29527; 843-381-8182 or 1-866-597-0100; statewide intake 1-888-346-5592, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Thu; 125 percent FPL): https://sclegal.org/locations/ and https://sclegal.org/contact-us/
• Horry County DSS (1951 Industrial Park Road, Conway, SC 29526; 843-366-1600): https://dss.sc.gov/contact-dss/pee-dee-region/horry/
• 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 (available in Anderson, Bamberg, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Dorchester, Greenville, Lexington, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland; Horry and Georgetown NOT served): 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 28, 2026. Re-verified against primary sources August 19, 2026.

Verified June 28, 2026. Re-verified August 19, 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.