Johnston County Senior Help Directory: Smithfield and Clayton Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

By Ryan Riggins, Riggins Strategic Solutions. NC Real Estate License #361546, eXp Realty.

Last updated June 23, 2026. Important: I am a licensed North Carolina real estate agent, but Riggins Strategic Solutions is an education and media company, not a real estate sales business. I am not here to list or sell your house. This is general education only, not financial, tax, medical, or legal advice. Programs and contacts change, so verify before you rely on them.

If you're caring for an aging parent in Smithfield, Clayton, Selma, or anywhere in Johnston County, there's more help out there than most families ever hear about. Here it is in plain English, grouped by what you'd actually go looking for. It's part of our growing Senior Help Directory.

Three local front doors open most of these:

NC 211: dial 2-1-1. Free, 24/7. Routes you to rent, utility, food, and medical help.
Community & Senior Services of Johnston County (CSS): 919-934-6066. The county's aging front door (formerly the Council on Aging): meals, in-home aide, caregiver support, senior centers, and the JCATS transit system.
Johnston County DSS: 919-989-5300. Medicaid, food benefits, and energy assistance.

Property tax relief

North Carolina's senior tax programs are administered by Johnston County Tax Administration (207 E. Johnston Street, 2nd floor of the Courthouse, Smithfield; mailing P.O. Box 451, Smithfield 27577; 919-989-5130). The application deadline is June 1. Johnston completed a revaluation recently, so watch your mail for relief deadlines and appeal windows.

Homestead Exclusion: greater of $25,000 or 50% off taxable value (including up to one acre of land). Income limit $38,800 for the 2026 tax year. Age 65+ or totally and permanently disabled as of January 1.
Circuit Breaker: caps tax at 4% of income (up to $38,800) or 5% (up to $58,200). CAUTION: it's a deferral, not forgiveness. The unpaid difference for the current and three prior years becomes a lien with interest, due when the home is sold or the owner passes. It requires a new application every year, and you cannot combine it with the Homestead or Disabled Veteran Exclusion. Understand it before you sign.
Disabled Veteran Exclusion: $45,000 off, no income limit, no age requirement. An unmarried surviving spouse may also qualify.

All three use Form AV-9, available from the tax office (disabled applicants under 65 also need the AV-9 Certification of Disability). If you missed the June 1 deadline, call and ask: late applications can sometimes be accepted for good cause. For the full walk-through of how these statewide programs work (and the Circuit Breaker lien trap in particular), see our guide to NC senior property tax relief.

Food

Community & Senior Services of Johnston County (CSS) runs Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) for homebound adults 60 and older who cannot prepare or obtain meals and have no one to help, plus congregate dining at senior centers. Delivery currently runs within a five-mile radius of meal sites in Benson, Clayton, Kenly, Micro, Princeton, Selma, and Smithfield, Monday to Friday. 919-934-6066 (1363 West Market Street, Smithfield).
Smithfield Rescue Mission serves free meals and gives out groceries and food boxes to the hungry and homeless in Johnston County. 919-934-9257 (523 Glenn Street, Smithfield).
The Salvation Army of Johnston County can provide food and other basic-needs help. 919-934-9102 (306 N. Brightleaf Boulevard, Smithfield).
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina supplies a large network of partner pantries and meal sites across Johnston County. Use its online Food Finder at foodbankcenc.org/food-finder or dial 211 to find the pantry nearest you.
SNAP (food stamps) through Johnston County DSS is income-based, so working families qualify too. Apply at epass.nc.gov or 919-989-5300.

Heating, cooling, and utility bills

LIEAP (a one-time heating payment) and the year-round Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) for a heating or cooling emergency, through Johnston County DSS (714 North Street, Smithfield; 919-989-5300) or epass.nc.gov. Households with a member 60+ or a disabled member can apply in December.
The Salvation Army of Johnston County (919-934-9102) and other local crisis ministries can help with past-due utilities; let 211 connect you to whichever has funds.
Duke Energy offers customer assistance for past-due accounts; ask them directly or let 211 connect you.

Medicare, Medicaid, and prescriptions

SHIIP free, unbiased Medicare counseling from the NC Department of Insurance: 1-855-408-1212. Community & Senior Services of Johnston County (919-934-6066) can also connect you with a local SHIIP counselor. Start here before any Medicare decision.
Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy: apply through Johnston County DSS or ask SHIIP.
NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy for uninsured NC residents under the income limit: 1-866-331-1348.

Home repairs and safety

Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action (JLHCA) runs the Weatherization Assistance Program for Johnston County: free energy-efficiency work (insulation, air sealing, weatherstripping, heating and cooling repair or replacement, water-heater insulation, and smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors) for income-eligible households. The elderly, people with disabilities, and families with children are served first; homeowners and renters can qualify. 919-934-2145 (1102 Massey Street, Smithfield) or dial 211.
USDA Section 504 grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62+ in eligible rural areas, through USDA Rural Development.
The CSS Family Caregiver Support Program can help arrange some home modifications and adaptive equipment for eligible caregiving situations; ask at 919-934-6066.

Rent, housing, and emergency cash

The Salvation Army of Johnston County is a main crisis resource for rent, utility, and other emergency help when funds are available. 919-934-9102 (306 N. Brightleaf Boulevard, Smithfield).
Smithfield Rescue Mission provides shelter, meals, and basic-needs help. 919-934-9257 (523 Glenn Street, Smithfield).
NC 211 is the fastest route to other temporary rent and utility help.
Johnston County DSS administers emergency and adult services. 919-989-5300.

Transportation

JCATS (Johnston County Area Transit System), operated by Community & Senior Services, provides demand-response, curb-to-curb rides countywide, with most trips being non-emergency medical transportation (in-county and out-of-county). Any Johnston County resident can ride; schedule ahead at 919-202-5030 (1050 W. Noble Street, Selma). Public rides cost $6.00 in county; when a human-service agency schedules your trip, there is often no cost to you.
CSS also coordinates senior transportation for adults 60 and older to medical appointments, meal sites, and community resources; ask at 919-934-6066.
Residents with full Medicaid and no other way to travel may qualify for free non-emergency medical transportation; ask DSS or JCATS.

Legal help

NC Legal Aid Senior Legal Helpline: free civil legal help for anyone 60+, no income limit (powers of attorney, wills, Medicaid and benefits, housing, scams). 1-877-579-7562, Monday to Friday 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
Central Pines Area Agency on Aging (the regional aging agency for Johnston, formerly Triangle J): free options counseling, benefits help, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for nursing-home and assisted-living complaints. 1-800-310-9777.
Legal Aid of North Carolina general intake for lower-income residents under 60: 1-866-219-5262.

Caregiver support

Community & Senior Services of Johnston County runs the Family Caregiver Support Program: referrals, education, training, and support to make a family caregiver's role more manageable, including help for those caring for people with dementia. It also offers In-Home Aide Services to help elderly and disabled adults stay in their own homes. Intake 919-934-6066 (1363 West Market Street, Smithfield).
Central Pines Area Agency on Aging also administers the regional Family Caregiver Support Program. 1-800-310-9777.

Staying at home instead of a nursing home

LIFE St. Joseph of the Pines (Trinity Health PACE) lists Johnston County in its PACE service area (Johnston and Wayne counties, plus a portion of Harnett). PACE coordinates a senior's entire medical care, primary care, a day center, therapy, personal care, prescriptions, and transportation, so someone who would otherwise qualify for a nursing home can keep living at home, for adults 55+ at a nursing-home level of care. The program's center is in Fayetteville, which can be a distance from parts of Johnston County, so call the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) or 211 to confirm current availability and the nearest day center before enrolling. Main office 910-429-7200 (4900 Raeford Road, Fayetteville).

How to use this list

Don't try to call all of it. Pick the one pressure point hurting most right now and start there, or call 211 and let them point you. An adult child can call and apply on a parent's behalf, just have proof of age, proof of income, and the paperwork handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I start finding senior help in Johnston County?

Start with three front doors. NC 211 (dial 2-1-1) is the free 24/7 line that routes you to rent, utility, food, and medical help. Community & Senior Services of Johnston County at 919-934-6066 is the county's aging front door for meals, in-home aide, caregiver support, and senior centers. Johnston County DSS at 919-989-5300 handles Medicaid, food benefits, and energy assistance.

What property tax relief is available to seniors in Johnston County?

The statewide North Carolina programs apply through Johnston County Tax Administration at 919-989-5130: the Homestead Exclusion (2026 income limit $38,800), the Circuit Breaker (a deferral that caps tax at 4% or 5% of income up to a $58,200 limit and becomes a lien), and the Disabled Veteran Exclusion ($45,000 off, no income limit). The application deadline is June 1, and the county recently completed a revaluation, so watch your mail for relief and appeal windows.

How do older adults in Johnston County get meals?

Community & Senior Services of Johnston County runs Meals on Wheels for homebound seniors 60 and older at 919-934-6066, with congregate dining at senior centers in Benson, Clayton, Kenly, Micro, Princeton, Selma, and Smithfield. The Smithfield Rescue Mission (919-934-9257) gives out groceries and food boxes, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC Food Finder lists local pantries, and SNAP is available through Johnston County DSS at 919-989-5300.

My parent can't drive. What transportation does Johnston County offer?

JCATS, the Johnston County Area Transit System run by Community & Senior Services, provides demand-response, curb-to-curb rides countywide, with most trips being non-emergency medical transportation. Any resident can ride; schedule ahead at 919-202-5030. Public rides cost $6 in county, and there is often no cost when a human-service agency schedules the trip. Riders with full Medicaid may qualify for free medical transportation.

I'm Ryan Riggins. I spent years on the investor side of real estate, then switched to educating families through senior transitions so they don't get taken advantage of during the hardest season of their lives. This guide is free. If it helped, pass it on.

Ryan Riggins | Riggins Strategic Solutions | NC Real Estate License #361546 | eXp Realty | rigginsstrategicsolutions.com

Disclaimer: Ryan Riggins is a licensed North Carolina real estate agent (#361546, eXp Realty). Riggins Strategic Solutions is an education and media company, not a real estate sales business. This guide is not a solicitation to buy, sell, or list your home, and it is not financial, tax, medical, or legal advice. We are not financial advisors, tax advisors, attorneys, or medical providers. Programs, income limits, and contacts change and vary by individual situation. Confirm current details directly with each program or a licensed professional before making any decision.