Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Ohio. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.
Start here (works anywhere in Ohio)
- 211 (dial 2-1-1) for local rent, utility, food, and medical help, 24/7
- Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116, the federal front door to your Area Agency on Aging
- BenefitsCheckUp.org screens you for every benefit you may qualify for
- Medicare 1-800-633-4227 | Social Security 1-800-772-1213 | VA Benefits 1-800-827-1000
- Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline 1-800-272-3900 | National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-372-8311 | Crisis Lifeline 988
Free Medicare counseling (Ohio OSHIIP)
Ohio's program is OSHIIP (Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program), run by the Ohio Department of Insurance since 1992. Free, unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling, plan comparisons, and help with Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs. Hotline: 1-800-686-1578. Online: insurance.ohio.gov (Medicare section). In 2025 alone OSHIIP saved Ohio beneficiaries more than $77 million.
Medicaid in Ohio
Ohio Medicaid is run by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Apply online through the Ohio Benefits portal at benefits.ohio.gov, call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or visit your county Department of Job and Family Services office. Medicaid can help pay Medicare premiums and long-term care costs for those who qualify.
Prescription help
Ohio does not run a general statewide pharmaceutical assistance program (SPAP) for seniors. Start with Medicare's Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy (apply through Social Security, 1-800-772-1213) and screen for drug-cost programs at BenefitsCheckUp.org. OSHIIP counselors (1-800-686-1578) can walk you through Part D and Extra Help.
Energy and utility help
Ohio's LIHEAP program is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), administered by the Ohio Department of Development. Apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov, by mail, or through your local Energy Assistance Provider. Call 1-800-282-0880 to be connected to your local provider. Regular HEAP applications for the current season are due by May 31, and a separate Winter Crisis Program runs in the cold months for households facing disconnection.
Property tax relief (Ohio)
Ohio's senior program is the Homestead Exemption, applied for through your county auditor.
- Standard Homestead Exemption (age 65+, or permanently disabled): it shields $29,000 of home market value from property tax. The Ohio Adjusted Gross Income limit (owner plus spouse) is $40,000 for tax year 2025 (based on your 2024 return, the bills collected in 2026) and $41,000 for tax year 2026. Both figures are indexed and change annually. Social Security income is generally not counted in OAGI.
- Enhanced exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (and certain surviving spouses): $58,000 of value with no income limit for the same tax year.
- Surviving spouses of public safety officers killed in the line of duty also qualify for an enhanced amount.
- Apply with your county auditor. Once approved you generally do not reapply every year unless circumstances change. Note: the Ohio House has passed a homestead expansion bill, but it is pending legislation, not law. The figures above are the ones in effect.
Food, in-home help, caregiver, transportation, and legal help
The Ohio Department of Aging (aging.ohio.gov) oversees Ohio's Area Agencies on Aging, which handle home-delivered meals, in-home care, caregiver support, and senior transportation. Find yours through the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) or by dialing 211. For free civil legal help, ask your Area Agency on Aging or 211 for the legal aid office serving your county.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ohio's SHIP program? It's called OSHIIP, the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, run by the Ohio Department of Insurance. Free Medicare counseling at 1-800-686-1578.
Does Ohio offer senior property tax relief? Yes, the Homestead Exemption. Homeowners 65+ or permanently disabled can shield $29,000 of home value if their Ohio Adjusted Gross Income is at or below the limit ($40,000 for tax year 2025, the bills collected in 2026; $41,000 for tax year 2026). Apply with your county auditor.
How do Ohio seniors get help with heating bills? Through HEAP. Apply at energyhelp.ohio.gov or call 1-800-282-0880 to find your local Energy Assistance Provider.
How do I apply for Ohio Medicaid? Online at benefits.ohio.gov or by calling the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680.
Sources
- Ohio Department of Insurance, OSHIIP: https://insurance.ohio.gov/consumers/medicare/01-oshiip . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline: https://www.ohiomh.com/ . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Ohio Department of Development HEAP (via Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel): https://www.occ.ohio.gov/factsheet/home-energy-assistance-program-heap and energyhelp.ohio.gov . Verified June 4, 2026.
- Ashtabula County Auditor, Homestead figures for tax year 2025 collected 2026: https://auditor.ashtabulacounty.gov/dnn/Announcements/ArtMID/518/ArticleID/1466/Homestead-Savings-and-Income-Update-for-2026 . Verified June 4, 2026.