Pinellas County, FL Senior Help Directory: St. Petersburg and Clearwater Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Pinellas 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, answered 24 hours a day for Pinellas County by First Contact, the nonprofit formerly known as 211 Tampa Bay Cares (dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898211, or reach the call center at 727-210-4211) | the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111, which reaches the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, the Area Agency on Aging and Aging and Disability Resource Center for Pasco and Pinellas counties, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Neighborly Care Network at 727-573-9444 for Meals on Wheels, senior cafes, adult day services, and senior transportation

Two more numbers worth writing down. Pinellas County Human Services is at 727-464-4200, and it is the door to the county's emergency financial assistance for adults. The Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 takes reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; press 2 for the adult line.

Property tax relief (apply with the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, 727-464-3207, pcpao.gov)

Florida seniors apply for property tax relief through the county Property Appraiser. In Pinellas the main office is at the County Courthouse, 315 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Clearwater, FL 33756, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are three more offices: North County at Northside Square, 29269 US Hwy 19 North, Clearwater; Mid County, co-located with the Tax Collector at 13025 Starkey Rd, Largo; and South County at 2500 34th Street North, 2nd Floor, St. Petersburg. The phone is 727-464-3207 for all four, and the TTY line is 727-464-4062.

Here is what makes Pinellas different from most Florida counties. Florida's senior exemptions are a local option, adopted city by city, and they never touch the school district portion of your bill. In a lot of counties only one or two governments bothered. In Pinellas, nearly everybody did. The Property Appraiser says the Low-Income Senior exemption is available in 23 of the county's 24 municipalities, every one except Belleair Shore, plus Unincorporated Pinellas. So the question here is not usually whether you qualify. It is how much your particular city decided to give.

Standard Homestead Exemption (statewide, any qualifying primary residence): up to $50,000 off the assessed value of a permanent primary residence. The first $25,000 is entirely exempt; the second $25,000 applies to value between $50,000 and $75,000 and does not include a benefit on the school tax. After the first year, the annual increase in assessed value is capped at 3 percent or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. That cap is Save Our Homes, and you can carry all or part of it to a new Florida home through portability.

Low-Income Senior (65+) exemption: an additional exemption on top of the standard homestead for owners who meet all of these:

• At least one property owner is 65 or older on January 1.
• The applicant qualifies for, or already receives, the Homestead Exemption.
• Prior-year household income is at or below the limit published annually by the Florida Department of Revenue. That limit is $38,686 for 2026. Social Security income is usually not counted if the resident is not required to file an income tax return.
• The applicant lives in a tax district that offers the exemption.

What each government adopted, per the Property Appraiser:

• $50,000: Belleair, Dunedin, Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, South Pasadena, and Unincorporated Pinellas County
• $25,000: Belleair Beach, Belleair Bluffs, Clearwater, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Kenneth City, Largo, Pinellas Park, Redington Beach, St. Pete Beach, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, and Treasure Island
• $20,000: Redington Shores
• $15,000: St. Petersburg
• Not adopted: Belleair Shore

The dollar amount is not the same as the dollar savings, because each government's millage rate differs. The Property Appraiser publishes its own approximate annual savings alongside the table, and the spread is wide: roughly $349 a year in Belleair and $259 in South Pasadena at the top, roughly $97 in St. Petersburg and $34 in Redington Shores at the bottom. Ask the office what it estimates for your address.

The deadline is March 1, and the income paperwork is not. This is the single most useful thing to know about the Pinellas process. The application deadline is March 1, but income documentation is not due until June 1. The Property Appraiser's instruction is blunt: if you do not have all your income information and March 1 is near, apply anyway. First-time applicants need proof of age (driver license, Florida ID, voter ID, or birth certificate) and either a 2025 Form 1040 or, if not required to file, documents like end-of-year bank statements or pension summaries showing 2025 income. Only 2025 income can be accepted for the 2026 exemption. Once approved, it renews automatically for most seniors, though state law lets the office audit a random sample of about 2,000 applicants each year and ask them to reapply.

Low-Income Senior 25-Year Residency exemption: this one is much larger, because it exempts the assessed value of the property against the adopting government's millage rather than a flat dollar amount. In Pinellas County only three taxing districts adopted it: North Redington Beach, Safety Harbor, and St. Petersburg. To qualify you must meet the Low-Income Senior requirements above, plus:

• A just (market) value under $250,000.
• The home has been your permanent residence for at least 25 years.

If you are a long-time St. Petersburg homeowner, read that twice. St. Petersburg has the smallest regular senior exemption in the county at $15,000, and it is also one of only three places in Pinellas where the 25-year version is on the table. The second one is worth far more than the first. File it with the Senior Exemption 25+ Year Residency Application.

Other exemptions worth asking about at the same time: $5,000 widow or widower, $5,000 personal disability, $5,000 blind, a total and permanent disability exemption that is not service connected, $5,000 for a veteran with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or greater, a full exemption for a veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability that can carry to a surviving spouse, a property tax discount for veterans 65 and older with a combat-related disability, exemptions for first responders totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty, and a reduction in assessed value for qualifying living quarters built for a parent or grandparent.

The one move: call 727-464-3207 before March 1, give them your address so they can confirm which taxing district you are in and what that district adopted, and ask them to check you for the 25-year version too if you have been in the house that long.

Food

• Neighborly Care Network (727-573-9444, neighborly.org) is the Meals on Wheels provider for Pinellas County, and has served the county for more than 50 years. Home-delivered meals go to adults 60 and older who are homebound because of illness, nutritional risk, isolation, or a physical, emotional, or behavioral disability. Funded meals carry a suggested contribution of $2 per meal, subject to availability. Hot meals are delivered Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; frozen meal routes run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and vary by ZIP code. Each meal is built to provide at least a third of the day's nutrition, roughly 600 calories and 30 grams of protein. Call for an assessment or complete the online screening form.
• Private pay meals are available from Neighborly to Pinellas residents of any age with no assessment, which is a genuinely useful option for a family that does not qualify for funded meals or does not want to wait.
• Senior cafes are Neighborly's congregate dining sites around the county, for older adults who can get out and would rather eat with people. Same number, 727-573-9444.
• Feeding Tampa Bay is the regional food bank, and its ten-county region includes Pinellas. Use the pantry and free-grocery finder at ftb.org/findfood or call 813-254-1190. It also runs Trinity Cafe, free full-service restaurants serving a three-course chef-prepared meal 365 days a year, and Groceries on the Go, a mobile grocery store with low-cost produce and shelf-stable food.
• SNAP (food stamps) is based on income, not age. Apply any time through Florida's MyACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com, or call the state customer call center at 850-300-4323.

Energy and utility help

• The Pinellas County Urban League is the local community action agency for energy help, at 333 31st Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713, phone 727-327-2081. It runs LIHEAP in three forms: Home Energy Assistance toward the electric or gas bill during the July 1 to June 30 program year, Crisis Assistance for an energy emergency (summer season April 1 to September 30, winter season October 1 to March 31), and Weather-Related Assistance after a declared emergency such as a hurricane. Priority goes to elderly and disabled households and households with young children. Apply online at floridaliheap.com; appointments are available through the month.
• Weatherization also runs through the Urban League, funded by the state. It covers attic insulation, window and door replacement, water heater insulation, lighting retrofits, low-flow fixtures, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, exhaust fans, and HVAC or refrigerator replacement when an energy audit recommends it. Email weatherization@pcul.org or apply at find.programs.floridacsbg.com.
• A change worth knowing about: EHEAP. The Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program used to run through the Pinellas Opportunity Council, and a lot of older printouts and referral lists still say so. POC's own site now says it no longer offers EHEAP because of a statewide program transition, and directs people instead to the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111 and to floridaliheap.com. If someone hands you an EHEAP flyer with the POC number on it, call the Elder Helpline instead. POC's general line is 727-823-4101.
• Duke Energy's Share the Light Fund helps Duke customers in crisis, and in Pinellas County it is administered by Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg. The main Pinellas office number is 727-893-1313. Funds are not always available and depend on how quickly that month's allocation is spent, so call or check before you count on it.
• For a past-due bill, dial 211 to find a church ministry or other local fund with emergency utility money right now.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

• Florida's SHIP (free Medicare counseling) is SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), delivered locally by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. Trained volunteers give free, unbiased, confidential one-on-one help with Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance questions: enrollment, Parts A, B, and D, Medigap and Advantage comparisons, claims and billing problems, appeals, fraud, and the programs that lower Medicare costs. Call 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111 to schedule a session at a counseling site near you, and see floridashine.org. Start here before any Medicare decision, especially before switching plans.
• 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: myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 850-300-4323.
• 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 (1-800-963-5337), Social Security (1-800-772-1213), and MyACCESS. 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 medications.
• The county also runs the Pinellas County Health Program for uninsured low-income adults, at 727-464-4200. Most people 65 and older are on Medicare instead, but it is worth a call if a household member is under 65 and uninsured.

Home repair and safety

This is the section where your city line matters most in Pinellas, and where the honest answer right now is that funding is tight nearly everywhere.

• Pinellas County Home Repair Loan Program. As of 5 p.m. on May 4, 2026, the county program is CLOSED to new applications. When open, it offers a fully forgivable loan of up to $75,000 (no monthly payments, nothing to repay as long as the home stays your primary residence) for roofs including soffit and fascia, windows, exterior doors, air conditioning and heating, and code-related electrical upgrades. The companion Independent Living Program adds a grant of up to $20,000 for wheelchair ramps, railings, grab bars, tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in or roll-in showers, ADA-approved toilets, door widening, and other barrier-free improvements, for an applicant who can show a permanent physical impairment or loss of a life function. Income must be at or below 80 percent of area median, which for 2026 is $58,450 for one person, $66,800 for two, $75,150 for three, $83,450 for four, and up to $110,200 for eight. The home's assessed value cannot exceed $375,000 and the mortgage cannot be past due now or in the prior six months. The county program never covered Belleair Shore, Clearwater, Largo, or St. Petersburg. Call Pinellas County Community Development at 727-464-8251 (440 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Clearwater) to ask when it reopens.
• City of St. Petersburg: Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program. For homes inside city limits, up to 80 percent of area median income (or 120 percent inside a Community Redevelopment Area), with a home value cap of $481,176. Home Repair Loans are 0 percent interest with payments based on ability to pay and are forgiven after 10 years of continued occupancy. A separate Accessibility Assistance Program goes up to $20,000, split as a $5,000 grant and a $15,000 loan, and covers condominiums, townhomes, and co-ops as well as houses. Call 727-892-5554.
• City of Clearwater: Home Preservation Program. Up to $60,000 as a zero-percent deferred loan for code-related repairs, priority on roof replacement, plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical, plus up to $15,000 in grant funds for ADA accessibility. The property must be inside Clearwater city limits, be your homestead, carry current insurance, and be current on taxes and mortgage. Read this part carefully: the city says it is still accepting applications, but applications will not advance until funding becomes available. Contact the Housing Division at 727-444-7161.
• City of Largo: Housing Rehabilitation and Replacement. A 0 percent interest deferred mortgage with no monthly payments, forgiven after 15 years of continuous residence, for roof, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, energy efficiency, and accessibility work, plus up to $5,000 energy and $5,000 barrier removal grants. Households up to 120 percent of area median income qualify, with priority to the lowest incomes. Largo runs a wait list prioritized by emergency and special needs. Call the Housing Division at 727-586-7489, ext. 7314 for pre-screening.
• Weatherization through the Pinellas County Urban League (727-327-2081) is often the fastest route to insulation, windows, doors, and air conditioning help when a rehabilitation program is closed or backed up.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

• 211 is the fastest route, answered around the clock for Pinellas County by First Contact. Dial 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898211, or call 727-210-4211. Online chat runs Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• The Pinellas County Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP) is built specifically for adults without minor children in the household, which is most older-adult households, and it is easy to miss for exactly that reason. You must be 18 or older, a Pinellas County resident with a Florida license or ID showing a Pinellas address, and at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (about $2,660 a month for one person). The emergency must trace to a qualifying event in the past 90 days, such as an unexpected medical bill, an emergency home or vehicle repair, or funeral expenses. It can pay overdue rent to prevent eviction, emergency mortgage help, utility bills, and emergency transportation to work or medical appointments, paid directly to the landlord or utility. It can be used once every 12 months. Start by calling 2-1-1; requests are processed 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The county's Human Services line is 727-464-4200.
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg (727-893-1313) runs emergency assistance in Pinellas and administers the Duke Energy fund. 211 will tell you which agency has money available right now.
• For Medicaid, SNAP, and cash assistance, apply through MyACCESS at myaccess.myflfamilies.com or 850-300-4323.

Transportation

• PSTA Access is the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's ADA paratransit service, for people whose disability prevents them from using the regular fixed-route bus. Eligibility is based on how the disability affects your ability to get to a stop, board, and navigate the system, not on a diagnosis. The process: call 727-540-1888 to request an application, return it signed, then call 727-540-1888 option 4 to schedule a 30-minute mobility phone consultation. Medical verification or an in-person assessment may follow, and a determination arrives within 21 days. The fare is $4.50 per ride. Book up to six days ahead and no later than 5 p.m. the day before; reservation lines are open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends and holidays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Start early, because three weeks is a long time when a ride is already a problem.
• Riders 65 and older ride the regular PSTA bus at a reduced fare. Just show a PSTA-issued photo ID or any government-issued photo ID to the operator when you board. No application.
• The Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) program is the one most people have never heard of, and for a senior on a fixed income it is often the better deal. If you live in Pinellas County, cannot get a ride from someone in your household for life-sustaining trips, and your household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($31,920 a year for one person, $63,600 for a family of four in 2026), you can buy a 10-day bus pass for $5.00 or a 31-day unlimited pass for $11.00. Qualifying residents inside City of St. Petersburg limits pay $0. A TD Late Shift add-on for shifts between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. is another $9 a month. Apply by email to TD@psta.net, by fax to 727-540-1923, or in person at any PSTA Customer Service Center; call 727-540-1900 with questions and again about two weeks later to check status.
• Neighborly Care Network (727-573-9444) provides curb-to-curb transportation for adults 60 and older to medical appointments, shopping, senior cafes, and adult day centers. There is a fee, so ask when you call.

Legal help

• Florida's Senior Legal Helpline gives free legal advice and brief services by phone to Florida residents 60 and older on civil matters including housing, family matters, government benefits, contracts, and consumer problems. Call 1-888-895-7873, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is operated by Bay Area Legal Services, which also serves Pinellas directly as one of its eight counties.
• Gulfcoast Legal Services is the Pinellas legal aid office, at 501 1st Ave N, Suite 420, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, phone 727-821-0726. It serves Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties and prioritizes seniors 60 and older. Its work includes elder law, consumer law, public benefits, a Pinellas birth certificate program for people who need identification, and a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. Walk-ins are taken Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the office closed to walk-ins from 12:30 to 1:30 Monday through Thursday and after 12:30 on Friday. You can also apply online any time.
• The Community Law Program serves Pinellas County only and runs a free Elder Law Clinic for clients over 60 covering wills, living wills, powers of attorney, and health care surrogates, held at the Sunshine Senior Center. It also runs housing, probate, bankruptcy, and family law clinics. Clinics are currently offered remotely by phone or video. Call 727-582-7480; the office is at 501 First Ave N, Room 519, St. Petersburg.
• To report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873, 24 hours a day. Florida is a universal mandatory reporting state, so anyone with reasonable cause to suspect it is required to report.

Caregiver support

• The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas runs the National Family Caregiver Support Program for unpaid caregivers of adults 60 and older. It provides supplies, respite services, and connections to local resources so a caregiver can keep going. Start at the Elder Helpline, 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.
• The Savvy Caregiver Program is an evidence-based course for people caring for someone over 60 with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia: six sessions, two hours each, on practical skills, reducing stress, and taking care of yourself. Register through the Health and Wellness Coordinator at 727-570-9696, ext. 163.
• The agency also offers mental health counseling by licensed counselors for adults 60 and older dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, or a hard life transition, by telehealth or in person at senior centers. This includes the caregiver, not just the person being cared for.
• 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 care at home through the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program, for people 65 and older who are Medicaid eligible, or 18 and older and Medicaid eligible by reason of disability, and who are determined by the state's CARES unit to be at a nursing-home level of care. It covers personal care, adult day care, skilled nursing, physical and occupational therapy, home-delivered meals, homemaker services, respite, transportation, and assisted living facility services. You start the screening by calling the local Aging and Disability Resource Center, which in Pinellas is the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111. Ask about the waitlist when you call, and 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. Pinellas County has one operational PACE program:

  • Suncoast PACE, a member of Empath Health, at 6774 102nd Ave. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33782, serving Pinellas County. Call 866-458-2933, or 800-955-8771 for the hearing impaired.

  Florida's official February 2026 AHCA PACE report lists Suncoast PACE as Operational in Pinellas, with 278 people enrolled that month. A second organization, BoldAge PACE Pinellas County FL, is listed as undergoing review; AHCA received its application in October 2025 and requested additional financial information in January 2026, so it is not operating and should not be part of your plan. One more thing worth stating plainly, because Pinellas and Pasco get blurred together constantly: InnovAge PACE, which operates next door in Pasco, is not authorized for Pinellas. Its service area is Hillsborough, Hernando, and Pasco. Enrollment in any PACE program usually requires Medicaid eligibility and is set by service area, so confirm with the program before you plan around it.

• Neighborly's adult day services, home-delivered meals, and curb-to-curb transportation (727-573-9444) also help an older adult stay in the home longer, and none of them require a Medicaid determination to start.

Frequently asked questions

Mom is 70 in St. Petersburg on a fixed income. Can she lower her property taxes? Yes, and there is a catch worth understanding. St. Petersburg adopted the Low-Income Senior exemption at only $15,000, the smallest amount in the county, worth roughly $97 a year by the Property Appraiser's own estimate. But St. Petersburg is also one of just three taxing districts in Pinellas (with North Redington Beach and Safety Harbor) that adopted the 25-Year Residency version, which exempts the assessed value of the home against the city's millage. If she has been in that house 25 years or more and its just value is under $250,000, the second exemption is worth many times the first. Call 727-464-3207 before March 1 and ask them to check her for both. Her income for 2025 must have been at or below $38,686.

My parents live in Belleair and my aunt lives in Belleair Shore. Do they get the same break? No, and this is the one gap in Pinellas. Belleair adopted the Low-Income Senior exemption at the full $50,000, the most generous in the county, worth roughly $349 a year. Belleair Shore is the only municipality in Pinellas that did not adopt it at all. Your aunt still gets the standard homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap, and she should still call 727-464-3207 to confirm what applies at her exact address, but there is no city-portion senior exemption for her.

Dad is homebound in Clearwater and can't cook. How do we get him meals? Call Neighborly Care Network at 727-573-9444. It is the Meals on Wheels provider for all of Pinellas County. If he is 60 or older and homebound because of illness, isolation, or a disability, he can get a hot meal delivered Monday through Friday for a suggested $2 contribution, subject to funding. If funded meals are not available right away, ask about private pay meals, which have no assessment and no age requirement, so you can start food arriving this week and switch later. For groceries now, use ftb.org/findfood or dial 211.

My parent can't drive anymore. What rides are available in Pinellas? Three options, and most families only know about one. If a disability prevents using the regular bus, apply for PSTA Access paratransit at 727-540-1888, but start now because eligibility takes up to 21 days and the fare is $4.50 a ride. If your parent can still ride a bus, the Transportation Disadvantaged bus pass is the bargain: $11 a month for unlimited rides, or free inside St. Petersburg city limits, for households at or below 200 percent of poverty. Call 727-540-1900. And riders 65 and older get a reduced fare on the regular bus just by showing a photo ID. Neighborly (727-573-9444) also runs curb-to-curb rides for seniors 60 and older to appointments and shopping, for a fee.

How does mom get help paying her Duke Energy bill in Pinellas? Two doors. Call the Pinellas County Urban League at 727-327-2081, the local community action agency, and apply for LIHEAP at floridaliheap.com; there is a crisis component for an emergency. Then call Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg at 727-893-1313, which administers Duke Energy's Share the Light Fund for Pinellas County, though funds run out and are not always available. If someone tells you to call the Pinellas Opportunity Council for EHEAP, that referral is out of date; POC no longer runs EHEAP and now sends people to the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 and to floridaliheap.com.

Our roof is failing and my mother is 78 in unincorporated Pinellas. Is there county help? Not right now. The county's Home Repair Loan Program, a forgivable loan of up to $75,000, closed to new applications at 5 p.m. on May 4, 2026. Call Pinellas County Community Development at 727-464-8251 to ask whether it has reopened and to get on any notification list. If she were inside Clearwater, Largo, or St. Petersburg city limits she would go to that city instead, and each has its own program with its own status. In the meantime, weatherization through the Urban League at 727-327-2081 covers some related work, and 211 can find emergency repair funds.

Sources

• Pinellas County Property Appraiser, Personal Exemptions: Low-Income Senior (65+) available in 23 municipalities (all but Belleair Shore) plus Unincorporated Pinellas; 2026 adjusted income limitation $38,686; application deadline March 1 with income information due June 1; auto-renewal with a random audit of approximately 2,000 applicants under Fla. Stat. 196.075(5); full adopting-district table with amounts and approximate savings (Belleair $50,000/$349, Dunedin $50,000/$207, Indian Rocks Beach $50,000/$87, Madeira Beach $50,000/$138, N Redington Beach $50,000/$75, Oldsmar $50,000/$203, Safety Harbor $50,000/$198, South Pasadena $50,000/$259, Unincorporated $50,000/$104, Belleair Beach $25,000/$51, Belleair Bluffs $25,000/$134, Clearwater $25,000/$147, Gulfport $25,000/$101, Indian Shores $25,000/$47, Kenneth City $25,000/$136, Largo $25,000/$138, Pinellas Park $25,000/$141, Redington Beach $25,000/$45, St. Pete Beach $25,000/$77, Seminole $25,000/$62, Tarpon Springs $25,000/$134, Treasure Island $25,000/$95, Redington Shores $20,000/$34, St. Petersburg $15,000/$97); Low-Income Senior 25-Year Residency adopted only by North Redington Beach, Safety Harbor, and St. Petersburg, just value under $250,000, 25 years permanent residence: https://www.pcpao.gov/exemptions/personal-exemptions . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas County Property Appraiser, Our Locations: County Courthouse 315 Court Street 2nd Floor Clearwater FL 33756; North County 29269 US Hwy 19 North Clearwater FL 33761; Mid County 13025 Starkey Rd Largo FL 33773; South County 2500 34th Street North 2nd Floor St. Petersburg FL 33713; phone 727-464-3207, TTY 727-464-4062, hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday: https://www.pcpao.gov/maplocation . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Florida Dept. of Revenue, Two Additional Homestead Exemptions for Persons 65 and Older, adjusted income limitation $38,686 for 2026, exemption up to $50,000, and the 25-year version requiring just value less than $250,000 and 25 years of permanent residence (revised January 2026): https://floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/AdditionalHomesteadExemptions.pdf . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc., Area Agency on Aging and ADRC for Pasco and Pinellas; Elder Helpline 1-800-963-5337 and 727-217-8111, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 9549 Koger Blvd. N., Gadsden Building, Suite 100, St. Petersburg FL 33702: https://agingcarefl.org/get-help/ . Services list including SHINE, caregiver support, in-home and community support, nutrition, legal, and Veterans Directed Care: https://agingcarefl.org/services/ . Caregiver Support (National Family Caregiver Support Program for caregivers of adults 60+, Savvy Caregiver six two-hour sessions, mental health counseling for adults 60+, Health and Wellness Coordinator 727-570-9696 ext. 163): https://agingcarefl.org/news-stories/services/caregriver-support/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• First Contact (legal name 211 Tampa Bay Cares, Inc.), 211 for Pinellas County answered 24 hours a day, text ZIP to 898211, call center 727-210-4211, chat Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: https://www.firstcontact.org/ and https://www.firstcontact.org/211-community-resource-connections . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Neighborly Care Network, Meals on Wheels Pinellas: 60+ and homebound for funded meals with a suggested $2 per meal contribution subject to availability, hot delivery Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., frozen 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. varying by ZIP, roughly 600 calories and 30g protein per meal, private pay available at any age with no assessment, 727-573-9444: https://www.neighborly.org/meals-on-wheels-pinellas . Organization programs (Meals on Wheels, Senior Cafes, Adult Day Services, Transportation, Care Management), serving Pinellas County adults 60+, 5225 Tech Data Dr. Suite 102 Clearwater FL 33760, 727-573-9444: https://www.neighborly.org/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Feeding Tampa Bay, ten-county region including Pinellas, pantry and free-grocery finder, Trinity Cafe, Groceries on the Go, 813-254-1190: https://ftb.org/findfood/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas County Urban League, Housing and Community Development: LIHEAP (Home Energy Assistance July 1 to June 30, Crisis Assistance summer April 1 to September 30 and winter October 1 to March 31, Weather-Related Assistance), Weatherization, priority to elderly and disabled households; 333 31st Street N, St. Petersburg FL 33713; 727-327-2081; weatherization@pcul.org; apply at floridaliheap.com: https://www.pcul.org/housing and https://www.pcul.org/apply-for-pcul-services . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas Opportunity Council, Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program page stating EHEAP is no longer offered due to a statewide program transition and directing clients to the Elder Helpline 800-963-5337 / 727-217-8111 and floridaliheap.com; POC 727-823-4101: https://poc-inc.org/emergency-home-energy-assistance-program/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Duke Energy utility assistance for Pinellas and Citrus counties, funds not always available, 727-893-1313: https://www.ccdosp.org/duke-utility-assistance/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas County Home Repair and Independent Living Programs: CLOSED to new applications as of 5 p.m. May 4, 2026; forgivable loan up to $75,000; Independent Living grant up to $20,000; excludes properties inside Belleair Shore, Clearwater, Largo, and St. Petersburg city limits; assessed value cap $375,000; 80 percent AMI limits $58,450 (1) through $110,200 (8); Community Development 727-464-8251, 440 Court Street 2nd Floor Clearwater FL 33756: https://pinellas.gov/programs/home-repair-loan-program/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• City of St. Petersburg Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program: 0 percent Home Repair Loans forgiven after 10 years, Accessibility Assistance Program up to $20,000 ($5,000 grant / $15,000 loan), 80 percent AMI or 120 percent in a CRA, house value cap $481,176, 727-892-5554: https://www.stpete.org/residents/housing/homeowners/housing_rehabilitation_assistance_program.php . Verified July 30, 2026.
• City of Clearwater Home Preservation Program: up to $60,000 zero-percent rehabilitation loan plus up to $15,000 ADA grant; page states the city "is still accepting rehabilitation program applications, but applications will not advance until funding becomes available"; property must be inside Clearwater city limits and homesteaded; Housing Division 727-444-7161: https://www.myclearwater.com/My-Neighborhood-and-Community-Programs/Programs-and-Services-Available-for-Residents/Apply-to-the-Home-Preservation-Program . Verified July 30, 2026.
• City of Largo Housing Rehabilitation and Replacement: 0 percent deferred mortgage forgiven after 15 years, up to $5,000 energy grant and $5,000 barrier removal grant, households to 120 percent AMI with priority to lowest incomes, wait list, Housing Division 727-586-7489 ext. 7314: https://www.largo.com/services/residents/housing_assistance/housing_rehab_and_replacement.php . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas County Adult Emergency Financial Assistance Program (AEFAP): 18+, no minor children in household, Pinellas residency by Florida license or ID, income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, qualifying event within the past 90 days, once every 12 months, paid to the vendor, apply by calling 2-1-1 with requests processed 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 727-464-4200: https://pinellas.gov/adult-emergency-financial-assistance-program/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Pinellas County Age-Friendly services and resources, Human Services Administration 727-464-4200, Pinellas County Health Program 727-464-4200, Veterans Services Division 727-464-8460: https://pinellas.gov/pinellas-county-age-friendly/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• PSTA Accessibility and PSTA Access paratransit: ADA-based eligibility, application by calling 727-540-1888, 30-minute mobility phone consultation (option 4), determination within 21 days, fare $4.50 per ride, reservations up to six days ahead and no later than 5 p.m. the day before, reduced fare for riders 65 and older with a PSTA-issued or government-issued photo ID: https://psta.net/rider-info/accessibility/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• PSTA Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Program: Pinellas residency, unable to obtain rides from household members for life-sustaining trips, income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($31,920 for one person and $63,600 for a family of four in 2026), 10-day pass $5.00, 31-day unlimited $11.00, $0 monthly TD fare for qualifying City of St. Petersburg residents, TD Late Shift add-on $9, apply via TD@psta.net or fax 727-540-1923 or any Customer Service Center, 727-540-1900: https://www.psta.net/programs/td-transportation-disadvantaged/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Bay Area Legal Services, Florida Senior Legal Helpline for Florida residents 60 and older at 888-895-7873, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Bay Area Legal Services directly serves eight counties including Pinellas: https://bals.org/help/seniors . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Gulfcoast Legal Services: Pinellas office 501 1st Ave N Suite 420, St. Petersburg FL 33701, 727-821-0726; serves Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota counties; prioritizes seniors 60+; walk-in hours Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a 12:30 to 1:30 closure Monday through Thursday and no walk-ins after 12:30 Friday; online application available 24/7: https://gulfcoastlegal.org/legal-help/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Community Law Program, Inc., serving Pinellas County: Elder Law Clinic for clients over 60 (wills, living wills, powers of attorney, health care surrogates) at the Sunshine Senior Center, plus housing, probate, bankruptcy, and family law clinics, currently offered remotely; 727-582-7480; 501 First Ave N, Room 519, St. Petersburg FL 33701: https://lawprogram.org/advice-clinics-pro-bono-representation/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Florida Dept. of Children and Families, Florida Abuse Hotline 1-800-962-2873, reports accepted 24 hours a day 7 days a week, press 2 for a vulnerable adult, Florida Relay 711 or TTY 800-453-5145: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/abuse/abuse-hotline . Public assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance), MyACCESS portal at myaccess.myflfamilies.com, customer call center 850-300-4323: https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/public-assistance . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs, Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program: 65+ and Medicaid eligible, or 18+ and Medicaid eligible by reason of disability, plus a CARES determination of nursing-home level of care; covers personal care, adult day care, ALF services, skilled nursing, therapy, home-delivered meals, homemaker, respite, and transportation; screening starts with the local ADRC or the statewide Elder Helpline 1-800-96-ELDER: https://elderaffairs.org/programs-and-services/statewide-medicaid-managed-care-long-term-care-program/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly Monthly Report, February 2026: Pinellas County lists Suncoast PACE as Operational with 278 enrollees for the month and 329 unique individuals served for the fiscal year, and BoldAge PACE Pinellas County FL as Undergoing Review (application received October 27, 2025; AHCA requested additional financial information January 14, 2026). InnovAge service area listed as Hillsborough, Hernando, and Pasco. PACE eligibility is 55 or older, nursing facility level of care, residence in the designated service area: https://ahca.myflorida.com/content/download/28770/file/February%202026%20PACE%20Report.pdf . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Suncoast PACE (member of Empath Health), 6774 102nd Ave. N., Pinellas Park FL 33782, serving Pinellas County; 866-458-2933, hearing impaired 800-955-8771; eligibility 55 and older: https://www.suncoastpace.org/locations/ and https://www.suncoastpace.org/about-suncoast-pace/ . Verified July 30, 2026.
• Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders), free unbiased Medicare counseling delivered locally by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, schedule at 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111: https://www.floridashine.org/ . Verified July 30, 2026.

Verified July 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.