Free, plain-English help for seniors and families in Texas. Education, not advice. Verify before you rely on it.
Start here (works anywhere in Texas)
- 211 (dial 2-1-1, or 2-1-1 Texas) 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 (Texas HICAP)
Texas's program is HICAP, the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program, a partnership of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Legal Services Center, and the Area Agencies on Aging. Free Medicare help and benefits counseling: 1-800-252-9240.
Medicaid in Texas
Texas Medicaid is administered by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone at 2-1-1 (then option 2), by mail, or in person at a local HHSC benefits office.
Prescription help
Texas does not run a general statewide pharmaceutical assistance program (SPAP) for all seniors. Start with Medicare's Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy (apply through Social Security, 1-800-772-1213), screen at BenefitsCheckUp.org, and ask a HICAP counselor (1-800-252-9240) about Part D options.
Energy and utility help
Texas runs LIHEAP as the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and delivered through local community-action providers. Find your local provider and apply by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting tdhca.texas.gov. Households on SNAP or Medicaid often qualify automatically.
Property tax relief (Texas)
Texas has no state income tax, so property tax relief is significant here. Apply with your county appraisal district using Form 50-114 (you can claim the Age 65+ box; late applications are allowed up to 2 years back).
- General Residence Homestead Exemption: Texas voters approved Proposition 13 on November 4, 2025, raising the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000 (up from $100,000), applied retroactively to the 2025 tax year.
- Over-65 (or Disabled) Additional Exemption: a companion measure (Proposition 11, approved the same day) raised the additional school-tax exemption for homeowners 65+ or disabled to $60,000 (up from $10,000), bringing the combined school exemption to about $200,000.
- Over-65 School Tax Ceiling (freeze): once you qualify at 65, your school-district tax dollar amount is frozen at that year's level and cannot rise even if your home's value does. Note: the freeze applies to school taxes (and any city/county that adopted a local ceiling), not automatically to all taxing units.
- Tax Deferral for 65+: homeowners 65+ may defer (postpone) property taxes on their homestead. CAUTION: deferred taxes accrue interest and become due, as a lien, when the home is sold or the owner passes.
Food, in-home help, caregiver, transportation, and legal help
Meals on Wheels, in-home support, the Family Caregiver Support Program, and senior transportation are reached through your Area Agency on Aging via the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) or 2-1-1. For free civil legal help, contact Texas Legal Services Center or your regional legal aid (find it through 211 or TexasLawHelp.org). For home repair, ask about USDA Section 504 grants for homeowners 62+ and local weatherization.
Frequently asked questions
What is Texas's HICAP program? HICAP is Texas's free Medicare counseling and benefits-advocacy program. Reach it at 1-800-252-9240.
Does Texas offer senior property tax relief? Yes, and it is substantial. Every homesteader gets a $140,000 school-tax exemption (as of the 2025 Prop 13 amendment). Homeowners 65+ get an additional $60,000 and a school-tax ceiling that freezes their school taxes. Seniors can also defer taxes entirely, though deferral creates a lien with interest. File Form 50-114 with your county appraisal district.
How do Texas seniors get help with electric bills? Through CEAP (Texas's LIHEAP). Dial 2-1-1 to find your local provider, or visit tdhca.texas.gov.
How do I apply for Texas Medicaid? Online at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1.
Sources
- Texas HICAP (HHSC / Texas Legal Services Center): https://www.tlsc.org/hicap and https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicare . Verified June 3, 2026.
- Texas HHSC Medicaid / YourTexasBenefits: https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/ . Verified June 3, 2026.
- TDHCA Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP): https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/comprehensive-energy-assistance-program-ceap . Verified June 3, 2026.
- Texas Comptroller, Property Tax Exemptions; Texas Proposition 13 (Nov 4, 2025) increasing homestead exemptions: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/exemptions/ and https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Proposition_13,Increase_Homestead_Property_Tax_Exemption_Amendment(2025) . Verified June 3, 2026.