By Ryan Riggins, Riggins Strategic Solutions. NC Real Estate License #361546, eXp Realty.
Last updated June 17, 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 helping an aging parent in Raleigh or anywhere in Wake 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.
- Resources for Seniors: the Wake County aging hub. 919-872-7933.
- Wake County Health & Human Services, Energy and Benefits: 919-212-7000. Energy assistance, food benefits, and Medicaid.
Property tax relief
North Carolina's senior tax programs are administered by the Wake County Department of Tax Administration (301 S. McDowell St., 3rd Floor, Raleigh; 919-856-5400, taxhelp@wake.gov). The deadline for all three is June 1.
- Homestead Exclusion: greater of $25,000 or 50% off taxable value. 2025 income limit $38,800. Age 65+ or totally and permanently disabled.
- 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 at 6% interest, due when the home is sold or the owner passes. Understand it before you sign.
- Disabled Veteran Exclusion: $45,000 off, no income limit, no age requirement. An unmarried surviving spouse may also qualify.
These are statewide programs, so for the full walk-through of how each one works (and the Circuit Breaker lien trap in particular), see our guide to NC senior property tax relief. Just use the Wake County Tax Administration number above.
Food
- Meals on Wheels of Wake County: a noon meal delivered to homebound residents 60+. 919-833-1749. wakemow.org.
- Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, "Grocery Bags for Seniors": a monthly bag of groceries delivered to low-income seniors. 919-250-0043.
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC: connects you to local pantries and SNAP help. 919-875-0707.
- SNAP (food stamps) through Wake County HHS. Income-based, so working families qualify too. Apply at epass.nc.gov or 919-212-7000.
Heating, cooling, and utility bills
- LIEAP (one-time annual heating payment) and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) for heating or cooling emergencies, through Wake County HHS Energy Program: 919-212-7000, epass.nc.gov, or SS.Energy@wake.gov. Seniors 60+ and disabled adults get a priority sign-up window (typically opening in December).
- 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. Start here before any Medicare decision.
- Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy: apply through Wake County HHS or ask SHIIP.
- NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy for uninsured NC residents under the income limit: 1-866-331-1348.
Home repairs and safety
- USDA Section 504 grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income homeowners 62+ (eligible rural areas), through USDA Rural Development.
- Resources for Seniors runs Home Improvement and Weatherization for income-qualified Wake County seniors: ramps, grab bars, minor repairs, energy upgrades. 919-872-7933.
- Central Pines Regional Council (formerly Triangle J) administers home repair and rehabilitation help; ask about current funding. 919-549-0551.
Rent, housing, and emergency cash
- NC 211 is the fastest route to temporary rent and utility help.
- Salvation Army of Wake County and local crisis ministries offer short-term emergency assistance.
- Wake County HHS administers several emergency and self-sufficiency programs. 919-212-7000.
Transportation
- GoWake Access: county door-to-door, shared-ride transportation for riders 60+, people with a disability, and rural residents. Monday to Saturday. 919-212-7005 (TTY 800-735-2962).
- GoRaleigh Access (ADA paratransit): for riders in the GoRaleigh service area whose disability prevents using fixed-route buses. Schedule at least 24 hours ahead. 919-996-3459.
- Resources for Seniors can also point you to medical-appointment transportation. 919-872-7933.
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 Wake, formerly Triangle J): free information, 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
- The NC Family Caregiver Support Program, delivered locally through Resources for Seniors, offers options counseling, respite referrals, and a "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" class so the family caregiver does not burn out. 919-872-7933.
Staying at home instead of a nursing home
- Senior CommUnity Care of North Carolina (SCCNC) is the PACE program serving Wake County. 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; most participants pay nothing through Medicare and Medicaid. 919-425-3050.
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 Wake 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. Resources for Seniors at 919-872-7933 is the Wake County hub for older adults. Wake County Health and Human Services, Energy and Benefits, at 919-212-7000 handles energy assistance, food benefits, and Medicaid.
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Wake County?
The statewide North Carolina programs apply, administered by Wake County Tax Administration at 919-856-5400: the Homestead Exclusion (2025 income limit $38,800), the Circuit Breaker (a deferral that becomes a 6% lien, so understand it before you sign), and the Disabled Veteran Exclusion ($45,000 off with no income limit). The deadline is June 1.
How do older adults in Raleigh get help with heating bills?
Apply through Wake County Health and Human Services at 919-212-7000 for LIEAP, a one-time annual heating payment, and the Crisis Intervention Program for a heating or cooling emergency. Seniors 60 and older and disabled adults get a priority sign-up window.
What transportation help is there for Wake County seniors?
GoWake Access at 919-212-7005 provides county-wide door-to-door rides for residents 60 and older, and GoRaleigh Access (ADA paratransit) at 919-996-3459 covers the Raleigh service area. Resources for Seniors at 919-872-7933 can also point you to medical-appointment 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.
