Medicare Help in Fresno

This page covers the City of Fresno. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Fresno, DSS handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh, the Medicare Savings Programs and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), which is paid help at home. The city runs FAX, senior lunch sites and your water bill. This page serves Downtown, the Tower District, West Fresno, Sunnyside, Pinedale and Woodward Park. If summer heat left you with a big Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) bill, start below.

Local offices in Fresno

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because the county makes the call and some of your income may not count. If you would rather not do it alone, a Pair Team advocate can help you in one call.

How do I apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh in Fresno?

Apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone, or at a DSS lobby in Fresno. The West Fresno and Sunnyside lobbies close at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Medi-Cal for people 65 and older is handled at the county's Clovis Campus, 3500 Never Forget Lane, where FAX Route 28 stops.

To talk to a worker, call 1-855-832-8082 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For now, only the automated line answers on Wednesdays, the county says.

The same Medi-Cal form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay your copays and the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together and IHSS in California.

Where can I get a hot lunch in Fresno?

You can get a free hot lunch in Fresno at the city's senior sites if you're 60 or older. Call or stop by your site to reserve by 11:30 a.m. the day before, and fill out a short form on your first visit. Lunch starts at 11:15 or 11:30 a.m., the city says.

Sites include Ted C. Wills on North San Pablo Avenue, Mary Ella Brown on East Annadale Avenue, Inspiration on West Gettysburg Avenue and the Cap Caprioglio Center on North 6th Street. The Link @ Blackstone, on North Blackstone Avenue, has activities until 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday. If you can't leave home, ask the Area Agency on Aging at (559) 214-0299 about meals brought to your door.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Fresno?

Valley Caregiver Resource Center gives free Medicare counseling as the HICAP for Fresno. Call (559) 224-9117 on weekdays, or meet a counselor at its office on North Fresno Street. Counselors help you compare plans, appeal a denial and report fraud. HICAP doesn't sell insurance, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either.

How do I get around Fresno?

FAX buses are free for now if you're 65 or older or have a Medicare card, so show ID when you board.

Handy Ride is the FAX van for people whose disability keeps them from using the bus, and age alone doesn't qualify you. Call (559) 621-7433 for an application. Once you're approved, book one to two days ahead at (559) 621-5770, any day. Vans run on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on weekends until 7 p.m. Pay the $1.25 cash fare, since the free bus fare doesn't cover Handy Ride.

If you have Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can seniors get free food in Fresno?

For free groceries with no appointment, go to First Fruits Market at City Center Fresno on East Dakota Avenue. It's set up like a store, and you shop in ticket order. It's open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and you can come once every 15 days.

The food bank's Groceries2Go box is by online appointment, every two weeks, at its East Amendola Drive warehouse on weekday mornings. In north Fresno, the Masjid on East Shaw Avenue hands out boxes on the first and third Thursdays. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my power and water bills in Fresno?

To lower your city water and trash bill, apply for the City of Fresno's affordability credit. It takes $5 a month off water and $5 off trash, up to $120 a year. Funds run out, and new money starts each July 1, so apply early every year. If you're 62 or older in a single-family home, ask about the 10 percent senior sewer discount at (559) 621-6888.

For PG&E, call 1-866-743-5832 and ask about CARE, which takes 30 to 35 percent off electric and 20 percent off gas. From June 2026 to May 2027, the income limit is $43,280 a year for one or two people, the state utility commission says. If you use medical devices at home, ask about Medical Baseline too.

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission takes LIHEAP applications online only. For help with the form, call (559) 263-1320 to book a visit, including Wednesdays in southwest Fresno. See LIHEAP in California.

Where can I get help with housing in Fresno?

Fresno Housing runs public housing and vouchers from its office on Fulton Street, at (559) 443-8400. In October 2026, its voucher interest list is closed, but you can make an online account now and apply when a list opens. People are picked by lottery and preference points, it says. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Fresno, calls to us often start with a city water bill and a DSS letter in the same pile. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up.

• Help you apply for the city's water and trash credit early.
• Reserve your first senior lunch, or set up meals at home.
• Apply for Handy Ride with you, and book Medi-Cal rides.
• Book a LIHEAP visit, and help with CARE forms.

An advocate is covered by Medicare if you qualify. It takes two minutes to find out.

Check if you qualify for a Pair Team advocate

Frequently asked questions

I live in Clovis. Is this my page?

If you live in Clovis, these county offices serve you too. But the water and trash credit and FresGO 311 are only for City of Fresno homes. For nearby places, see Medicare help in Bakersfield, Modesto and Tulare County.

Can I get help in Spanish, Hmong or Punjabi?

You can get help in Spanish, Hmong or Punjabi at The Fresno Center on East Kings Canyon Road, whose staff also speak Lao, Khmer, Hindi and Arabic. At DSS, ask your worker for a free interpreter, which the state says Medi-Cal provides.

How long does DSS take to decide on CalFresh?

CalFresh comes within 30 days once DSS has everything it asks for, Fresno County says. If you have very little money, it may come within 3 days.

What if PG&E sends a shut-off notice?

If PG&E sends a 48-hour shut-off notice, apply for LIHEAP online, then call (559) 263-1320 to speed up your case. Ask PG&E for a payment plan the same day.

How do I report abuse of an older adult in Fresno?

To report abuse of an older adult in Fresno, call Adult Protective Services at (559) 600-3383. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Locations and Services, County of Fresno Department of Social Services
• Wednesday Contact Center Changes, County of Fresno Department of Social Services
• Apply for Assistance, County of Fresno Department of Social Services
• CalFresh FAQ, County of Fresno
• In-Home Supportive Services, County of Fresno
• Activities and Recreational Programs (Senior Program and Senior Hot Meals), City of Fresno
• Senior Center, City of Fresno
• Handy Ride, City of Fresno
• Free Fares for Reduced Fare Riders, City of Fresno
• Billing and Payments, City of Fresno Utilities Billing and Collection
• FresGO 311, City of Fresno
• Information and Assistance, Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging
• About HICAP, Valley Caregiver Resource Center
• Medicare Counseling (HICAP), California Department of Aging
• First Fruits Market, Central California Food Bank
• Groceries2Go, Central California Food Bank
• Energy Services, Fresno EOC
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), PG&E
• Medical Baseline Program, PG&E
• Application Process, Fresno Housing
• Fresno Housing
• Our Mission, The Fresno Center
• Contact Us, The Fresno Center
• Non-Discrimination Policy and Language Access, DHCS
• Get Help, Central California Legal Services
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS