Written & Reviewed by
Columbus and Franklin County senior assistance
Last updated: 18 September 2026
Older adults in Columbus can use a mix of city, Franklin County, Ohio, federal, and nonprofit programs. Most are not cash grants. They may lower bills, provide food or rides, pay providers, reduce taxes, or help you stay safely at home.
Bottom Line
If you are not sure where to begin, call Franklin County Senior Options at 614-525-6200 if you are 60 or older. For an urgent food, housing, utility, or shelter problem, call 2-1-1. Then apply directly to the program that handles your biggest need first.
Need Help Right Now?
Call 911 for immediate danger. Call or text 988 for a mental health or suicide crisis. For emergency food, shelter, rent, utility, or local service referrals in Franklin County, contact LSS 211 Central Ohio. The service connects residents with local programs and crisis resources.
Start Here
- Age 60 or older in Franklin County: contact Senior Options at 614-525-6200 for screening for meals, personal care, homemaker help, respite, emergency response systems, minor repair, and other services.
- Need SNAP or Medicaid: use the Ohio Benefits portal or ask your county benefits office for help applying.
- Several problems at once: use our Ohio senior help guide to see more statewide routes that can be combined with Columbus-area help.
What Has Changed
- Ohio began the 2026-2027 Home Energy Assistance Program season on July 1, 2026. The current one-person HEAP income limit is $27,930 a year, with higher limits for larger households.
- Columbus Water & Power now lists 2026 income limits for its 30% usage discount. Qualifying customers age 60 or older may also have service charges waived.
- The City of Columbus Critical Home Repair Program is not accepting applications as of this review. The city still lists the Chores Program for smaller senior or disability-related safety repairs and the Emergency Repair Program for qualifying urgent hazards.
- CMHA now directs Housing Choice Voucher applicants to its RentCafe portal for applications, documents, messages, and waitlist status. Property-based waitlists can still open and close separately.
Quick Help for Common Needs
| Need | First step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Food today | Call 2-1-1 or use Mid-Ohio Food Collective. | Pantry hours and pickup rules can change. |
| Monthly grocery help | Apply for SNAP through Ohio Benefits. | Older or disabled households may have special medical-expense deductions. |
| Affordable housing | Check the CMHA housing portal. | Voucher and property waitlists can open or close. |
| Gas or electric bill | Check HEAP or PIPP Plus. | Apply early and keep your current utility bill. |
| Help staying at home | Call Senior Options or COAAA. | Some services need a care or financial screening. |
| Property tax relief | Check the Franklin County Homestead rules. | The exemption lowers taxable value; it does not erase the tax bill. |
Food, SNAP, and Home-Delivered Meals
What this can help with: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can help pay for groceries. Food pantries can help sooner. Home-delivered meals can help an older adult who has trouble shopping, cooking, or safely preparing food.
Who may qualify: SNAP uses household income and other rules. Ohio’s current SNAP rule allows eligible elderly or disabled household members to deduct verified unreimbursed medical costs above $35 per month. That can matter when a senior has premiums, copays, prescriptions, dental bills, or other allowed medical expenses. See our Ohio SNAP guide for a fuller explanation.
Where to start: Apply for SNAP through Ohio Benefits. For food needed now, call 2-1-1 or use Mid-Ohio Food Collective’s food-finding tools. Franklin County residents age 60 and older can also ask Senior Options about meal delivery. LifeCare Alliance provides home-delivered meals and can be reached through its meal eligibility page.
Rent, Affordable Housing, and Waitlists
What this can help with: Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, project-based housing, and income-restricted apartments can lower rent for qualifying households. Some options are tied to one property. Others may allow a voucher to be used with an approved private landlord.
Where to start: CMHA’s current online system lets applicants apply to the Housing Choice Voucher waitlist when available, upload documents, and check status. CMHA also says its property waitlists open and close as needed. Keep your phone, email, and mailing address current so you do not miss a notice.
Use the Ohio Housing Locator to search for affordable, accessible, and senior-friendly rentals. Our Ohio housing help guide explains more statewide housing routes.
If eviction is already a risk: do not wait for a housing waitlist. Call 2-1-1 and ask about emergency rent or shelter resources. If you received a notice from a landlord or court, contact legal aid quickly because deadlines can be short.
Electric, Gas, Water, and Energy Help
HEAP: Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps income-eligible households with heating costs. For the 2026-2027 season, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel lists the one-person annual income limit at $27,930. The current HEAP season began July 1, 2026 and runs through May 31, 2027. Review the HEAP details before applying.
PIPP Plus: Eligible customers of participating regulated gas and electric utilities can use the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus to make monthly payments tied to household income. The current program uses a 175% federal poverty guideline. Review the PIPP Plus rules and ask the local energy-assistance provider which program fits your account.
Columbus Water & Power: the city’s income-qualified program gives approved customers a 30% discount on water and/or power usage. A household can qualify through an approved assistance program or by meeting the 2026 income test. Approved customers age 60 or older may also qualify to have service charges waived. Check the 2026 utility discount or call 614-645-8276.
For a wider list of state utility routes, see our Ohio emergency assistance guide.
Home Repairs and Accessibility Changes
Small safety repairs: the City of Columbus Chores Program is for city homeowners age 60 or older, or physically disabled homeowners age 55 or older, who meet income rules. The repair must address health or safety and is limited to $2,000 including labor and materials.
Larger critical repairs: the City of Columbus Critical Home Repair page says the program is not accepting applications at this time. Do not pay anyone who claims they can guarantee access to a closed city application.
Immediate hazards: the city’s Emergency Repair Program may address qualifying imminent health or safety hazards for eligible owner-occupied homes. Franklin County Senior Options also includes minor home repair among its services.
Rural homes outside Columbus: USDA Section 504 can provide repair loans and, for very-low-income homeowners age 62 or older who qualify, grants for health and safety hazards. The property must be in an eligible rural area. Check USDA Section 504 before assuming your address qualifies.
Our Ohio home repair guide covers additional state and federal repair paths.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Help at Home
Senior Options: Franklin County residents age 60 and older can enroll for screening. Services can include meals, personal care, homemaker help, respite, adult day services, emergency response systems, transportation, and minor repair. Some services use a sliding fee scale or further assessment.
PASSPORT: Ohio’s PASSPORT Medicaid waiver helps some adults age 60 or older receive long-term services at home instead of in a nursing facility. A person must be financially eligible for long-term care Medicaid and meet a nursing-facility level of care. In central Ohio, call the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at 614-645-7250 or 1-800-589-7277 and review PASSPORT.
Medicare questions: the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) provides free Medicare counseling. Call 1-800-686-1578 or use OSHIIP Medicare help. Ask about plan choices, Extra Help, and whether a Medicare Savings Program could help with Medicare costs.
For more on those cost-saving programs, see our Ohio Medicare Savings Programs guide. For regional aging agencies, use our Ohio AAA directory.
Property Tax Relief and Transportation
Ohio Homestead Exemption
For the 2026 application period, the Franklin County Auditor says the standard senior and disabled Homestead Exemption uses a maximum 2025 total income of $41,000. A senior applicant generally must own and occupy the home as the primary residence and be age 65, or turn 65, by December 31 of the year applied for. The standard exemption shields the first $29,000 of the home’s appraised value from taxation. Review the Homestead Exemption page or call 614-525-HOME (4663).
The actual dollar savings vary by tax district. If you already receive the exemption, you normally do not file a new application every year, but you must report eligibility changes. See our Ohio property tax relief guide for more detail.
COTA reduced fares
COTA offers half-price fixed-route fares to several eligible groups, including riders age 65 and older. Seniors need a COTA Reduced Fare Senior ID Card and a photo ID showing birth date when applying. Review COTA reduced fares before visiting the sales office.
Legal Help, Benefits Problems, and Scams
Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) serves Franklin County and can help qualifying people with civil legal problems such as evictions, housing subsidies, utility shutoffs, public benefits, debt, and some senior issues. Apply through LASCO legal help or call 1-888-246-4420.
Ohio residents age 60 and older can also use the Pro Seniors helpline for free legal information, advice, and referral regardless of income or resources. Call 1-800-488-6070.
If an agency denies SNAP, Medicaid, housing, or another benefit, ask for the written decision and the appeal deadline. Do not rely on a verbal “no” if the program gives appeal rights.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Choose the urgent problem. No food, unsafe housing, shutoff, eviction, no medicine, or an unsafe home comes before general benefit searching.
- Call the right doorway. Senior Options is a strong first call for Franklin County aging services. 2-1-1 is a strong first call for urgent local referrals.
- Ask for broad screening. Say, “Please screen me for every program that may fit, not only the one I named.”
- Keep a simple call log. Write the date, office, worker name, case number, documents requested, and next deadline.
- Use backup routes. A housing, repair, or home-care wait should not stop you from using food, utility, transportation, or legal help meanwhile.
Documents to Gather
| Document | Why it helps | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Age, identity, transportation, housing | Use current government ID when possible. |
| Proof of address | City, county, housing, utility programs | Bring a lease, bill, or official letter. |
| Income proof | SNAP, Medicaid, utilities, housing, repairs | Keep Social Security, pension, wage, and tax records together. |
| Benefit cards | Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP | Bring plan letters as well as cards. |
| Notices and bills | Shutoff, eviction, denial, tax, debt | Keep the envelope because mailing dates may matter. |
| Home records | Repair and property-tax programs | Keep deed, tax, mortgage, photos, estimates, and code notices. |
Reality Checks
- Not every program is a grant. Some help is a discount, benefit, service, voucher, tax reduction, payment plan, or provider payment.
- Funding and waitlists change. A page that accepted applications last month may be closed today.
- City and county borders matter. A Columbus address may qualify for a city program, a Franklin County program, both, or neither.
- Income rules differ. Meeting one program’s limit does not mean you meet another program’s limit.
- Home-care approval takes assessment. Age alone does not guarantee PASSPORT or other long-term care services.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting for a crisis: apply for energy, food, and housing help before the final shutoff or eviction day when possible.
- Paying for public applications: government benefit applications should not require a private “grant finder” fee.
- Missing mail or portal messages: unanswered requests can close an application.
- Using old income numbers: annual limits can change. Check the program’s current year before deciding you are over income.
- Assuming a closed program means no repair help: one Columbus repair program is currently closed, but other city, county, and rural routes may still fit.
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed?
If denied: ask for the decision in writing. Find the appeal or hearing deadline. Ask legal aid if you do not understand the reason.
If delayed: ask whether anything is missing, record your case number, and keep proof of each document you uploaded, mailed, or delivered.
If overwhelmed: ask a trusted family member or caregiver to sit with you during calls. With your permission, some agencies can explain what they need while that person listens.
Backup Options
- Use a food pantry while SNAP is pending.
- Ask the utility about a payment plan while applying for HEAP or PIPP Plus.
- Search individual affordable properties while waiting on a voucher list.
- Ask Senior Options about minor repair while a larger repair route is unavailable.
- Ask OSHIIP whether Medicare Savings Programs or Extra Help may lower health costs.
- Use legal aid quickly when a denial, eviction, benefit termination, or debt notice includes a deadline.
Local and Official Resources
| Resource | Best for | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County Senior Options | Meals, in-home support, minor repair, aging services | 614-525-6200 |
| LSS 211 Central Ohio | Food, shelter, rent, utility, crisis referrals | 2-1-1 |
| Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging | PASSPORT and long-term care screening | 614-645-7250 |
| OSHIIP | Medicare counseling | 1-800-686-1578 |
| Columbus Water & Power | City utility discount questions | 614-645-8276 |
| Franklin County Auditor | Homestead Exemption | 614-525-4663 |
| LASCO intake | Civil legal help | 1-888-246-4420 |
Phone Scripts You Can Use
Senior Options
“Hello. I live in Franklin County and I am age [age]. I need help staying safely at home. Can you screen me for Senior Options and tell me which services may fit my needs?”
Utility shutoff
“I received a shutoff notice for [gas, electric, or water]. What is the last date to stop shutoff, what payment or agency pledge will you accept, and what should I apply for today?”
Housing waitlist
“I am an older adult looking for affordable housing. Which waitlists can I apply to now, and how do I keep my address, phone, and email current after I apply?”
Benefits denial
“I received a denial dated [date]. Please tell me the exact reason, the appeal deadline, how to request a hearing or review, and whether any documents are missing.”
Resumen en Español
Las personas mayores en Columbus pueden pedir ayuda con comida, vivienda, servicios públicos, cuidado en el hogar, Medicare, Medicaid, transporte, reparaciones y reducción de impuestos de propiedad. Para ayuda urgente con comida, renta, refugio o servicios públicos, llame al 2-1-1. Si vive en Franklin County y tiene 60 años o más, llame a Senior Options al 614-525-6200. Guarde sus cartas, facturas, números de caso y fechas límite. Si una solicitud es negada, pida la razón por escrito y revise la fecha límite para apelar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there real grants for seniors in Columbus?
Yes, but most assistance is not cash paid directly to you. Help may be a repair grant, benefit, discount, meal, housing subsidy, service, tax reduction, or payment made to a provider.
Where should I start if I need help today?
Call 2-1-1 for urgent local food, shelter, rent, utility, and crisis referrals. If you are 60 or older in Franklin County, also call Senior Options at 614-525-6200.
Is Columbus home repair help open?
The city’s Critical Home Repair Program is not accepting applications as of September 12, 2026. The Chores Program and Emergency Repair Program may still fit some homeowners, and Senior Options offers minor repair services.
Can seniors get cheaper Columbus utility bills?
Qualifying Columbus Water & Power customers can receive a 30% usage discount. Approved customers age 60 or older may also qualify for waived service charges.
What is the 2026 Homestead income limit?
For the 2026 Franklin County application period, the standard senior and disabled Homestead Exemption uses a maximum 2025 total income of $41,000, subject to the program’s other rules.
What if I was denied a benefit?
Ask for the decision in writing, find the appeal or hearing deadline, and keep proof of all documents you submitted. Contact legal aid if you need help understanding the decision or appeal process.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, county, city, transit, housing, aging, and other high-trust nonprofit sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with any government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful checking, errors may occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, funding, waitlists, and availability can change. Confirm current details directly with the responsible program before acting.
Last updated: 18 September 2026 · Next review: 18 January 2027
About the Authors