Roanoke, VA Senior Help Directory: City and County Programs for Seniors and Families (2026)

Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County, VA. 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 | Local Office on Aging (LOA) at 540-345-0451 (toll-free 1-888-355-6222), the Area Agency on Aging for the Roanoke Valley | the local Department of Social Services (Roanoke City or Roanoke County) for benefits, food, and energy help

One important Virginia note up front: the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County are two separate governments, each with its own tax office and its own senior tax program. The City of Salem, in the middle of the valley, is a third separate independent city with its own tax office, and the Town of Vinton is a town inside Roanoke County. Apply for property tax relief to the government that actually taxes the home. If you are not sure which one that is, LOA (540-345-0451) or the tax office can tell you by address.

Property tax relief

Virginia's senior property-tax break is set locally by each city or county under state law, so the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County each run their own program through their own Commissioner of the Revenue. Both are a tax freeze, which locks the real estate tax bill at the amount owed when you first qualify rather than exempting a dollar amount.

City of Roanoke (Commissioner of the Revenue, 540-853-2523):

• What it does: freezes the real estate tax at the amount assessed at the time you apply, for a qualifying homeowner on their principal residence.
• Who qualifies: an owner at least 65 years old, or an owner under 65 who can certify total and permanent disability.
• Income limit: the annual combined gross income of all residents of the home must not exceed $51,200. The first $4,000 of gross income of residents other than the owner and spouse is not counted, and up to $7,500 of disability income received by a permanently disabled applicant is not counted.
• Asset test: the combined net worth of the residents may not exceed $160,000, not counting the value of the principal residence.
• Timing: eligibility is set by conditions on December 31 each year, and applications are accepted April 1 through May 31.
• Apply at the Commissioner of the Revenue's office, Room 213, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24011.

Roanoke County (Commissioner of the Revenue, main line 540-772-2046; tax freeze program 540-772-2048):

• What it does: a Real Estate Tax Freeze for the elderly and disabled, freezing the county real estate tax on the qualifying owner's principal residence.
• Who qualifies: an owner 65 or older by December 31 of the year before the tax year, or an owner who is permanently and totally disabled.
• Income limit: the gross combined income of the owners and any relatives living in the home may not exceed $60,000, not counting the first $10,000 of income of each relative other than a spouse or owner.
• Asset test: the total combined financial worth of the owners, excluding the residence, must not exceed $200,000.
• Deadline: for the 2026 tax year the final date to file was Monday, March 16, so file early each year.
• Apply through the Roanoke County Commissioner of the Revenue.

Statewide disabled-veteran exemption (both the City and the County): separately from the freeze programs, Virginia gives a 100 percent real estate tax exemption on the primary home of a veteran with a 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability rating, and to some surviving spouses, with no income limit. Ask the City or County Commissioner of the Revenue about the disabled-veteran and surviving-spouse exemptions; veterans can apply at any time during the year.

The one move: call your Commissioner of the Revenue (City of Roanoke 540-853-2523, Roanoke County 540-772-2048) to confirm this year's income and net-worth limits, the documents to bring, and the exact filing window, and to request an application. If the home is inside the City of Salem, apply to the Salem Commissioner of the Revenue instead (540-375-3019; Salem's freeze applications are taken in July and August each year).

Food

• The Local Office on Aging runs Meals on Wheels for homebound residents age 60 and older across the Roanoke Valley who cannot prepare a nutritious midday meal and have no one available to cook for them. To enroll or ask about eligibility, call LOA at 540-345-0451 (toll-free 1-888-355-6222).
• Feeding Southwest Virginia, the regional food bank based in Salem (1025 Electric Road; 540-342-3011), supplies a network of pantries and senior food programs across the Roanoke Valley. To find the closest pantry or hot-meal site, dial 211 or ask LOA.
• SNAP (food stamps) is based on income, not age. Apply online at the Virginia benefits portal CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov), by phone at 1-855-635-4370, or through your local Department of Social Services (Roanoke City or Roanoke County).

Energy and utility help

• The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP), run through the Department of Social Services, has three parts: Fuel Assistance for winter heating (the application window opens in the fall), Crisis Assistance for heating emergencies (accepted November 1 through March 15), and Cooling Assistance for summer (accepted June 15 through August 15). Apply online at CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov), by phone at 1-855-635-4370, or through the Roanoke City or Roanoke County Department of Social Services.
• Total Action for Progress (TAP), the Roanoke Valley community action agency, weatherizes homes and can help lower energy costs; reach TAP at 540-777-4673 (540-777-HOPE) or the Weatherization office at 540-283-4899.
• Dominion Energy's EnergyShare fund helps income-qualified households with heating and cooling costs, and 211 is the fastest way to find a local crisis fund or church ministry with money for a past-due utility bill.

Medicare, Medicaid, prescriptions

• Virginia's SHIP is VICAP (the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program): free, unbiased, confidential help with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans, Medigap, enrollment, appeals, and fraud, delivered locally through the Local Office on Aging. Call LOA at 540-345-0451 for local VICAP counseling, or the statewide VICAP line at 1-800-552-3402. Start here before any Medicare decision.
• Medicaid in Virginia is called Cardinal Care and includes long-term-care coverage and the programs that help pay Medicare costs. Apply online at CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov), by phone through Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282, or through the Roanoke City or Roanoke County Department of Social Services.
• 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 VICAP (LOA, 540-345-0451), Social Security (1-800-772-1213), and CommonHelp.
• For medications, ask VICAP about Extra Help, and use BenefitsCheckUp.org to find manufacturer and nonprofit patient-assistance programs for specific drugs. Virginia does not run a general statewide senior drug program.

Home repair and safety

• Total Action for Progress (TAP) is the main local source for senior home repair and safety work in the Roanoke Valley. Its Weatherization program cuts energy costs and improves safety, and its Limited Home Repair and Emergency Home Repair programs make repairs for low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners. Reach TAP at 540-777-4673 (540-777-HOPE), 302 2nd Street SW, Roanoke, VA 24011, or the repair and weatherization line at 540-283-4899. TAP serves the Cities of Roanoke and Salem and Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Rockbridge counties.
• Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity affiliates serving the Roanoke Valley also do free or low-cost safety repairs, grab bars, and wheelchair ramps for qualifying older homeowners; 211 or LOA (540-345-0451) can refer you.
• If the home is in a rural part of Roanoke 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 Virginia or dial 211.

Rent, housing, emergency cash

• 211 is the fastest route to emergency help with rent and utilities and will point you to the local nonprofit, community action agency, or church ministry with money available now.
• Total Action for Progress (TAP), 540-777-4673, and the Roanoke City or Roanoke County Department of Social Services can screen for benefits and emergency programs; The Salvation Army of the Roanoke Valley also runs emergency assistance.
• For Medicaid, SNAP, and cash assistance (TANF), apply through CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov), 1-855-635-4370, or your local Department of Social Services.

Transportation

• Valley Metro STAR is the ADA paratransit for the valley, providing rides for people whose disability keeps them from using the regular Valley Metro buses. It is operated under contract by RADAR (Unified Human Services Transportation Systems, Roanoke Area Dial-A-Ride) and serves the City of Roanoke, the Town of Vinton, and the City of Salem, within three-quarters of a mile of a fixed bus route, Monday through Saturday, 5:45 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. Eligibility is based on functional ability, not age. To request an application, call Valley Metro at 540-982-2222; once certified, book rides at 540-343-1721, extension 3.
• CORTRAN is Roanoke County's ride service for preapproved county residents 65 and older or with a disability, run through Virginia Regional Transit: door-to-door rides to destinations in Roanoke County, Vinton, Salem, and the City of Roanoke, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., $5 per one-way trip (no payment on board), booked by 3 p.m. the day before. Call 540-776-7271 (option 1) or email CORTRAN@roanokecountyva.gov for applications and scheduling.
• The Local Office on Aging (540-345-0451) can also help with senior transportation to meal sites and programs, and 211 can find volunteer driver help.

Legal help

• The Virginia Statewide Senior Legal Helpline, run by the Virginia Poverty Law Center, gives free legal information, advice, and referral to any Virginian age 60 or older on issues like long-term care, public benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, Social Security), guardianship and alternatives, financial exploitation, abuse and neglect, and consumer problems. Call 1-844-802-5910.
• The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley (LASRV) provides free civil (non-criminal) legal help to qualifying lower-income residents of the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig, Bedford, and Franklin, on housing, family, consumer, and public-benefits matters. Apply through the shared legal-aid intake line at 540-344-2080 (answered by Blue Ridge Legal Services, which handles intake for both BRLS and LASRV and routes your case). The help is free.
• The Local Office on Aging (540-345-0451) can connect older adults to free legal counseling and benefits help through its aging-network programs.

Caregiver support

• The Local Office on Aging runs a Family Caregiver Support Program: information and one-on-one support, caregiver education, and respite (a break for the caregiver) for people caring for an adult 60 or older, or for a person with dementia. Reach it at 540-345-0451.
• 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

• Virginia Medicaid pays for in-home care (personal care, adult day care, respite, and other supports) through its home and community-based services waiver for older adults and people with disabilities who meet a nursing-home level of care but can live safely at home. Apply for Medicaid through CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov) or Cover Virginia (1-855-242-8282), and ask LOA (540-345-0451) or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) how to start a screening.
• 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. InnovAge Virginia PACE operates a Roanoke Valley center (1606 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem) serving the Roanoke area: enrollment 540-707-0116, current participants 540-904-2817. Ask LOA (540-345-0451), Virginia Medicaid / DMAS, or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) to confirm current details and whether your address is covered.
• Home-delivered meals, in-home help, and paratransit rides also help an older adult stay in the home longer.

Frequently asked questions

Mom is 70 in Roanoke on a fixed income. Can she lower her property taxes? Possibly. Both the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County freeze the real estate tax bill for qualifying owners 65 and older (or totally and permanently disabled). In the City, the income limit is $51,200 and net worth (not counting the home) must stay under $160,000; in the County, the income limit is $60,000 and net worth under $200,000. Which set of rules applies depends on whether the home is inside the city limits or in the county. Call the City Commissioner of the Revenue at 540-853-2523 or the County's tax freeze line at 540-772-2048 to confirm this year's limits and your filing window.

How do I know if Mom's house is in the City of Roanoke or Roanoke County? They are separate governments, and the tax office that bills the home is the one to apply to. If you are unsure, either Commissioner of the Revenue office can tell you by address, and the Local Office on Aging (540-345-0451) can help you sort it out. If the home is in the City of Salem, that is a third separate city with its own program.

Dad is homebound in the valley and can't cook anymore. How do we get him meals? Call the Local Office on Aging at 540-345-0451 about Meals on Wheels for homebound residents 60 and older. If he needs food sooner, dial 211 or ask LOA to point you to the nearest pantry in the Feeding Southwest Virginia network.

My parent can't drive and needs rides to the doctor. What is available? If a disability keeps your parent from riding a regular Valley Metro bus, apply for Valley Metro STAR ADA paratransit by calling 540-982-2222; once certified, book rides at 540-343-1721, extension 3. Roanoke County residents can apply for CORTRAN, the county's door-to-door ride service, at 540-776-7271, and LOA (540-345-0451) can help with senior transportation.

Sources

• City of Roanoke Real Estate Tax Relief (freeze for elderly and disabled): 65+ or under-65 certified total and permanent disability; combined gross income of all residents not over $51,200 (first $4,000 of non-owner/spouse residents excluded, up to $7,500 disability income excluded); net worth not over $160,000 excluding the residence; apply April 1 to May 31; Commissioner of the Revenue 540-853-2523, Room 213, 215 Church Avenue: https://www.roanokeva.gov/663/Real-Estate-Tax-Relief-Programs
• Roanoke County Real Estate Tax Freeze for the Elderly and Disabled: 65+ by Dec 31 prior year or permanently and totally disabled; gross combined income of owners and relatives not over $60,000 (first $10,000 of each non-owner/spouse relative excluded); combined financial worth not over $200,000 excluding the home and up to one acre; 2026 filing deadline March 16; Commissioner of the Revenue main 540-772-2046, freeze program 540-772-2048: https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/463/Real-Estate-Tax-Freeze---Elderly-and-Dis and https://www.roanokecountyva.gov/451/Tax-Relief-Programs
• Local Office on Aging (LOA), Area Agency on Aging for the Roanoke Valley; Meals on Wheels and VICAP; 540-345-0451, toll-free 1-888-355-6222, 4932 Frontage Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24019: https://www.loaa.org/ and https://www.loaa.org/our-services/nutrition/
• Total Action for Progress (TAP), community action agency; Weatherization, Limited Home Repair, and Emergency Home Repair; 540-777-4673 (540-777-HOPE), repair/weatherization 540-283-4899, 302 2nd Street SW, Roanoke: https://tapintohope.org/program/limited-home-repair/
• Virginia Energy Assistance Program via local DSS and CommonHelp (1-855-635-4370; Crisis Nov 1 to Mar 15, Cooling Jun 15 to Aug 15): https://www.dss.virginia.gov/relief/ea/ and https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/
• Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), statewide 1-800-552-3402, local via LOA: https://www.vda.virginia.gov/vicap.htm
• Cardinal Care Medicaid via CommonHelp and Cover Virginia (1-855-242-8282): https://coverva.dmas.virginia.gov/
• Valley Metro STAR ADA paratransit, operated by RADAR (Unified Human Services Transportation Systems); serves City of Roanoke, Town of Vinton, City of Salem; apply 540-982-2222, reservations 540-343-1721 ext. 3: https://www.valleymetro.com/services/paratransit-services and https://radartransit.org/ridership-information/valley-metro-star/
• Virginia Statewide Senior Legal Helpline (Virginia Poverty Law Center; age 60+; 1-844-802-5910): https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/node/33/statewide-senior-legal-helpline
• Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley (LASRV), serving the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Roanoke, Botetourt, Craig, Bedford, and Franklin; intake 540-344-2080: https://www.lasrv.org/contact-us
• InnovAge PACE Roanoke Valley (55+, nursing-home level of care): https://www.innovage.com/locations/virginia/roanoke-valley and Virginia DMAS PACE overview https://dmas.virginia.gov/for-members/benefits-and-services/other-programs-and-guidelines/pace/
• Verified July 6, 2026.

Verified July 6, 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.