Miami-Dade County, FL Senior Help Directory: Miami Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Miami-Dade County, FL. 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 Miami (dial 2-1-1, run by Jewish Community Services of South Florida, covers Miami-Dade and Monroe, 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Creole) | Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline at 305-670-4357 or 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337), the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for Miami-Dade and Monroe | Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) at 786-469-4600, the county's front door for energy, food, and emergency help

Property tax relief (apply with the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County, Tomas Regalado, 305-375-4712)

Florida seniors apply for property tax relief through the county Property Appraiser. The general homestead filing deadline is March 1. Miami-Dade County has adopted the local-option senior exemptions described below, but note that these senior benefits are a local option, so the extra savings depend on which city (or unincorporated area) the home sits in. The Property Appraiser publishes a chart of which local governments adopted the senior exemption and the estimated benefit.

Standard Homestead Exemption (statewide, any qualifying primary residence): up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent primary residence, plus the Save Our Homes cap that limits how much the assessed value can rise each year to 3 percent or the change in the CPI, whichever is lower. This is the base benefit before any senior exemption. Apply once through the Property Appraiser; it renews automatically.

Senior Exemption (age 65 and older, limited income): an additional exemption on top of the standard homestead for owners who meet all of these:

• The property already qualifies for a Homestead Exemption.
• At least one owner is 65 or older as of January 1.
• The total household adjusted gross income for everyone who lives on the property was at or below $38,686 in the prior year (2025), the figure set annually by the Florida Department of Revenue. This limit changes every year. This exemption reduces the county and city ad valorem taxes, not the School Board portion. Apply with Form DR-501 (select "Age 65 and Older with Limited Income") plus the Household Income Sworn Statement, Form DR-501SC. Once approved, the Senior Exemption renews automatically each year, and the office mails a renewal receipt.

Long-Term Resident Senior Exemption (25 or more years in the home): for low-income seniors who have lived in the same home a long time, this can wipe out the entire county and city ad valorem portion of the tax bill. In addition to the Senior Exemption rules above, it requires:

• Having lived in the home for at least 25 years.
• A home market value under $250,000 (this test applies only to the first year you claim it).
• The same $38,686 household income limit. Apply with Form DR-501 (select "Age 65 and Older with Permanent Residency for 25 Years or More") plus Form DR-501SC.

Statewide disabled-veteran and disability benefits: Florida also gives a full property tax exemption on the homestead of a veteran with a total and permanent service-connected disability (and to some surviving spouses), a $5,000 exemption for a veteran with a 10 percent or greater disability, and exemptions for owners who are totally and permanently disabled or legally blind. Ask the Property Appraiser which ones fit.

The one move: call the Property Appraiser at 305-375-4712 (or apply online at miamidadepa.gov) before March 1 to confirm this year's income limit, ask whether your specific city adopted the senior exemption and how much it saves, and have them check you for the Senior Exemption and the Long-Term Resident Senior Exemption at the same time.

Food

• Miami-Dade County runs a Meals for the Elderly program (federal Older Americans Act nutrition program) through the Community Action and Human Services Department. Homebound residents 60 and older can receive seven free frozen meals each week delivered on weekdays, along with items like fresh fruit and milk. Seniors who are not homebound can eat at one of the county's congregate meal sites (about 19 locations countywide). Call 786-469-4707 to check eligibility, or ask the Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline (305-670-4357) to start a screening.
• Meals on Wheels South Florida (mowsoflo.org) is a Broward-based nonprofit; its free homebound-senior meals serve Broward County, and only its paid Complete Cuisine delivery reaches parts of north Miami-Dade, so start with the county program above. Jewish Community Services of South Florida runs a Kosher Home-Delivered Meals program and a Kosher Food Bank for homebound seniors; reach JCS Access at 305-576-6550.
• SNAP (food stamps) is based on income, not age. Apply any time through Florida's ACCESS system at myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 1-866-762-2237. The Alliance for Aging can help older adults apply.
• Feeding South Florida is the regional food bank; find the nearest pantry through its online pantry locator, by dialing 211, or through the Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline.

Energy and utility help

• LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in Miami-Dade is run by the Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD). Regular Energy Assistance applies a credit to your utility account (roughly up to $1,350 per year, once a year). Crisis Energy Assistance helps households facing disconnection or holding a final notice (up to $2,000 within a 12-month period, available twice a year in the winter and summer seasons). You can apply online, but if your power is already off or about to be cut, go in person to a Community Resource Center. Call CAHSD at 786-469-4600 or visit miamidade.gov/socialservices.
• Florida's statewide LIHEAP information line is 1-833-273-9455 (floridaliheap.com), and 211 Miami can point you to the closest intake site.
• For a past-due bill, dial 211 to find a church ministry, the Salvation Army, or another local fund with emergency utility money.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

• Florida's SHIP (free Medicare counseling) is SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), delivered locally by the Alliance for Aging. SHINE volunteers give free, unbiased, confidential one-on-one help with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap, enrollment, appeals, and fraud. Call the Alliance for Aging at 305-670-4357 (SHINE ext. 11256) or the statewide Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337. Start here before any Medicare decision.
• Medicaid in Florida (including long-term-care coverage and the programs that help pay Medicare costs) is applied for through the Department of Children and Families ACCESS system: myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 1-866-762-2237.
• Medicare Savings Programs (help paying Part A and B premiums) and Extra Help / the Low-Income Subsidy (lower Part D drug costs) are screened through SHINE (305-670-6500 ext 11256), Social Security (1-800-772-1213), and ACCESS. Florida does not run a general statewide senior drug program, so ask SHINE about Extra Help and use BenefitsCheckUp.org to find manufacturer and nonprofit patient-assistance programs for specific drugs.

Home repair and safety

• CAHSD Home Weatherization Assistance helps income-qualified Miami-Dade homeowners make the home more energy efficient and safer: attic insulation, weather-stripping, energy-efficient bulbs, water-heater measures, and repair or replacement of exterior doors, windows, refrigerators, water heaters, and cooling and heating systems. Call 786-469-4730 or visit miamidade.gov/socialservices.
• Rebuilding Together Miami-Dade and local Habitat for Humanity affiliates do free or low-cost safety repairs, grab bars, and wheelchair ramps for qualifying older homeowners. Dial 211 or ask the Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline (305-670-4357) for a current referral.
• If the home is in a rural, unincorporated part of the county, the USDA Section 504 Home Repair program offers low-interest repair loans, and grants for owners 62 and older who cannot repay a loan, to fix health and safety hazards. Ask USDA Rural Development in Florida or dial 211.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

• 211 Miami (dial 2-1-1) is the fastest route to emergency help with rent and utilities and will point you to the nonprofit, community action center, or church ministry with money available now. It has a database of over 4,000 local programs and offers 24/7 crisis and emotional support in English, Spanish, and Creole.
• CAHSD (786-469-4600) runs the county's community resource centers and emergency assistance programs, and the Salvation Army and other Miami-Dade charities run emergency rent and utility help.
• For Medicaid, SNAP, and cash assistance (TANF), apply through Florida ACCESS at myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 1-866-762-2237.
• Miami-Dade also has a Homeless Trust outreach line; dial 211 to be connected if housing loss is imminent.

Transportation

• STS (Special Transportation Service) is Miami-Dade's ADA paratransit: shared-ride, door-to-door service for residents whose disability keeps them from riding Metrobus, Metrorail, or Metromover on their own. A Florida-licensed physician must complete and sign the STS application, and the fare is about $3.50 per trip. Service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ask about eligibility and the application through Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works (miamidade.gov/transit) or dial 311.
• Golden Passport: Miami-Dade residents who are 65 and older (and permanent county residents) ride Metrobus, Metrorail, and Metromover free with a Golden Passport EASY Card. Apply in person at the Golden Passport office in the Stephen P. Clark Center or at any 311 Service Center. (Residents on Social Security may also qualify regardless of age; ask at 311.)
• Dial 211 or call the Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline (305-670-4357) to find volunteer driver networks and rides to meal sites, medical appointments, and adult day programs.

Legal help

• Florida's Senior Legal Helpline gives free legal advice and brief services by phone to Florida residents age 60 and older on civil matters (powers of attorney, wills, Medicaid and public benefits, housing, consumer problems, and scams). Call 1-888-895-7873. The Alliance for Aging (305-670-4357) also arranges free legal and benefits counseling through its aging-network programs.
• Legal Services of Greater Miami provides free civil legal help to qualifying lower-income residents of Miami-Dade and Monroe on housing, public benefits, consumer, and elder-law issues. Call 305-576-0080. There is no charge.
• Dade Legal Aid (Put Something Back) and the Dade County Bar pro bono program are additional free civil legal resources; dial 211 or ask the Alliance for Aging for the right office.

Caregiver support

• The Alliance for Aging runs the Family Caregiver Support Program for people caring for an adult 60 or older (or a person with dementia): information, one-on-one support, caregiver education, and respite (a paid break for the caregiver). Reach it through the Elder Helpline at 305-670-4357.
• The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is there any hour for dementia caregiving questions, and 211 can point you to local support groups.

Staying at home instead of a nursing home

• Florida Medicaid pays for in-home care (personal care, adult day care, respite, and other supports) through its Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program for older adults who meet a nursing-home level of care but can live safely at home. Ask the Alliance for Aging (305-670-4357) or the Elder Helpline (1-800-963-5337) to start a screening, and apply for Medicaid through ACCESS (myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 1-866-762-2237). There is often a wait list, so start early.
• PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) wraps all medical care, therapy, an adult day center, home care, and prescriptions into one program for people 55 and older who meet a nursing-home level of care but can live at home with help. In Miami-Dade, Florida PACE Centers, an affiliate of Miami Jewish Health, is the long-established provider (a Miami center is at 5200 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33137). Enrollment usually requires Medicaid eligibility and is by ZIP-code service area. Ask about enrollment and eligibility at floridapacecenters.org, through the Alliance for Aging (305-670-4357), or through Florida Medicaid. Ask about enrollment at 786-933-7223 (TTY 800-955-8771); Florida PACE Centers runs sites in Miami (5200 NE 2nd Avenue) and Hialeah, with coverage by zip code.
• Home-delivered meals, in-home help, and paratransit rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

Mom is 68 in Miami on a fixed income. Can she lower her property taxes? Likely yes. On top of the standard homestead exemption (up to $50,000 off plus the Save Our Homes cap), Miami-Dade adopted the additional Senior Exemption for owners 65 and older whose total household income was at or below $38,686 last year. If she has lived in the home 25 years or more and it is worth under $250,000, the Long-Term Resident Senior Exemption can eliminate the entire county and city portion of her bill. Call the Property Appraiser at 305-375-4712 before March 1 and have them check her for both, and confirm whether her city adopted the exemption.

Dad is homebound in Miami-Dade and can't cook. How do we get him meals? Call the county's Meals for the Elderly line at 786-469-4707 about seven free frozen meals a week delivered to homebound residents 60 and older, or ask the Alliance for Aging Elder Helpline (305-670-4357) to start a screening. If he needs food sooner, dial 211 or search the Feeding South Florida pantry locator.

My parent is 66 and can't drive. What transportation is free? If your parent is 65 or older and a permanent county resident, the Golden Passport lets them ride Metrobus, Metrorail, and Metromover free; apply at a 311 Service Center. If a disability keeps them off regular buses, apply for STS paratransit (a Florida-licensed physician signs the form) through Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works or 311.

How does mom get help paying her light bill in Miami? Through LIHEAP, run by the county's Community Action and Human Services Department. Call the LIHEAP application line at 786-469-4640 (department main 786-469-4600) or apply online; if the power is already off or about to be cut, go in person to a Community Resource Center. Dial 211 for other emergency utility funds.

Sources

• Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County (Tomas Regalado), Senior Citizen Exemptions: Homestead required, at least one owner 65+ as of Jan 1, total household AGI at or below $38,686 for 2025 (set annually by Florida DOR), Senior Exemption and Long-Term Resident Senior Exemption (25+ years, market value under $250,000 first year), Forms DR-501 and DR-501SC, senior benefits are a local option by city: https://www.miamidadepa.gov/pa/exemption/senior.page . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Florida Dept. of Revenue, Property Tax Benefits for Persons 65 or Older (PT-110) and Form DR-501SC: https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/pt110.pdf and https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/dr501sc.pdf . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Alliance for Aging, Inc., ADRC / Elder Helpline for Miami-Dade and Monroe (305-670-4357, 1-800-96-ELDER / 1-800-963-5337) and SHINE Medicare counseling (ext 11256): https://allianceforaging.org/consumers/get-help-information/adrc . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Miami-Dade County Meals for the Elderly (60+, homebound seven frozen meals/week, 19 congregate sites, 786-469-4707): https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1542231822683771 . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD), LIHEAP (786-469-4600, Regular up to $1,350 per year, Crisis up to $2,000 per 12 months) and Home Weatherization (786-469-4730): https://www.miamidade.gov/global/socialservices/home.page . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Legal Services of Greater Miami (free civil legal help, low-income Miami-Dade and Monroe, 305-576-0080): https://www.legalservicesmiami.org/ . Florida Senior Legal Helpline (60+, 1-888-895-7873) via floridalawhelp.org. Verified July 7, 2026.
• Miami-Dade Transit STS (ADA paratransit, physician-signed application, about $3.50/trip, 24/7) and Golden Passport (65+ permanent residents ride free): https://www.miamidade.gov/transit/special-transportation.asp and https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1519934358967260 . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Florida PACE Centers (affiliate of Miami Jewish Health), 55+, nursing-home level of care, Medicaid, enrollment 786-933-7223; Miami center 5200 NE 2nd Ave and Hialeah center 60 E 3rd St: https://www.floridapacecenters.org/ . Verified July 7, 2026.
• 211 Miami (Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Miami-Dade and Monroe, 24/7, 4,000+ programs): https://211miami.org/about-us/ . JCS Access food support 305-576-6550: https://jcsfl.org/our-services/food-support/ . Verified July 7, 2026.
• Florida ACCESS / Medicaid (myaccess.myflfamilies.com, 1-866-762-2237): https://www.myflfamilies.com/ . Verified July 7, 2026.

Verified July 7, 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.