Medicare Help in Lancaster, California

This page covers Lancaster in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles County, not Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For nearby cities, see Medicare help in Palmdale or Medicare help in Los Angeles. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Lancaster, the county's DPSS handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and paid help at home, called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The city adds a community center, Lancaster Energy and home repair help, and AVTA runs the buses and Dial-A-Ride. This page is for Lancaster and nearby Quartz Hill and Lake Los Angeles. If the summer power bill was your biggest bill this year, start with the power section.

Local offices in Lancaster

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.

Where do I apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh in Lancaster?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-866-613-3777, or in person. The main DPSS office is at 349-B East Avenue K-6. A sub office at 337 East Avenue K-10 also takes both. Each is open on weekdays from 8 to 5, 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.

For paid help at home, apply for IHSS by phone at 1-888-944-4477, and a social worker visits your home. See IHSS in California and Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

Where are the senior programs in Lancaster?

The county runs the Antelope Valley Senior Center at 777 West Jackman Street, for the whole valley. It has a computer lab and chair exercise classes. Call (661) 726-4400 to ask about meals and classes.

The city's Lancaster Community Center at 44611 Yucca Avenue is free to join at (661) 723-6110. People 55 and older can come to Senior Stretch on Wednesday mornings and Senior Bingo on the second and fourth Tuesdays. For meals at home, call the county's aging line at 1-800-510-2020.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling near Lancaster?

For free Medicare counseling, the nearest volunteer counselor is at Legacy Commons for Active Seniors in Palmdale. Book at (661) 267-5904. You can also call the Center for Health Care Rights, the county's HICAP, at 1-800-434-0222, in more than 230 languages. HICAP doesn't sell insurance or plans, and Pair Team doesn't either.

How do I get rides in Lancaster?

AVTA Dial-A-Ride is a curb-to-curb van across the valley. Anyone 62 or older can ride with a state ID and a reduced fare card, and so can people with a disability. Book up to two days ahead, or the same day, at (661) 945-9445, extension 1. A trip in the urban zone costs $3.

On AVTA local buses, people 62 and older ride free with a Senior Annual Pass, AVTA says. A disability fare card cuts a ride to 75 cents. With Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits.

How do I lower my power, gas and water bills in Lancaster?

Lancaster Energy, once called Lancaster Choice Energy, buys the city's power, and SCE sends the bill. If you already have CARE with SCE, you keep it, Lancaster Energy says. To sign up, call SCE at 1-800-655-4555 and ask about CARE, which takes 30 to 35 percent off. For gas, ask SoCalGas about CARE, which takes 20 percent off. Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can qualify you, the state utility commission says.

If Los Angeles County Waterworks sends your water bill, call 1-877-637-3661 to ask about a payment plan.

For help paying a bill, call Maravilla Foundation at 1-800-906-4651, the state's line for Antelope Valley ZIP codes. It runs LIHEAP here, for propane too. It takes fewer forms in 2026, by mail only, and weighs age and disability. An answer can take 10 to 12 weeks. See LIHEAP in California.

Can I get help fixing my home in Lancaster?

If you own and live in a mobile home in Lancaster, the city and Habitat LA lend up to $150,000 for repairs. The loan has no interest, and payments are put off. If the home sits in a mobile home park, the loan can be forgiven after 20 years. In 2026, a one-person home can make up to $93,300. Leisure Lake, Quartz Hill and Village parks are outside the city, so they don't qualify.

For other homes, call (661) 723-5870 about the city's Emergency Repair Program, which keeps a waitlist.

Where can I get free food in Lancaster?

For free groceries, go to Grace Resources at 45134 Sierra Highway and bring ID. You can get groceries once a week. The walk-up line is Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 10:30 a.m. The drive-through is the same days from 1 to 1:30. It also serves hot meals four days a week. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Lancaster, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a big summer SCE bill or a Dial-A-Ride form. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you sign up for CARE with SCE before the summer bills come.
• Help you apply for Dial-A-Ride and the reduced fare card it needs.
• Help you put together a full LIHEAP packet for Maravilla Foundation.
• Help you apply for IHSS by phone and get ready for the social worker's visit.

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 Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Is this my page?

If you live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this page isn't yours, because it covers Lancaster, California. To find free Medicare counseling in Pennsylvania, call 1-877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org.

I live in Quartz Hill or Palmdale. Is this my page?

If you live in Quartz Hill or Palmdale, part of this page is yours. DPSS, Dial-A-Ride, the Antelope Valley Senior Center, Maravilla Foundation and Grace Resources serve the whole valley. Lancaster Energy and the city's repair loans are for homes in Lancaster.

How long does DPSS take to decide?

DPSS generally has 45 days to decide on Medi-Cal and the Medicare Savings Programs. For CalFresh, counties decide within 30 days. If you haven't heard back, call 1-866-613-3777.

I live outside town. Can I use Dial-A-Ride?

Yes, you can use Dial-A-Ride at any age if you live in Rural Zone 1 or 2. Those are areas with no bus nearby, AVTA says. Bring a recent utility bill to show where you live. A trip costs $3.50 in Rural Zone 1 and $6 in Rural Zone 2.

Can I get Section 8 in Lancaster?

Section 8 in Lancaster runs through the Los Angeles County Development Authority, and its list is closed to new names. Its senior public housing lists last took names from August 17 to September 16, 2026, and are closed for now. Call its Palmdale office at (661) 575-1511 to ask what's open, and see housing help in California.

Sources

• Office Locations, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Lancaster - 34, Los Angeles County Services Locator
• Lancaster General Relief Sub Office - 67, Los Angeles County Services Locator
• Contact Us, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Antelope Valley Senior Center, Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities
• Community Center Programs, City of Lancaster
• Lancaster Community Center, City of Lancaster
• How to Get Free Medicare Help, Center for Health Care Rights
• How to Qualify for Dial-A-Ride, AVTA
• Dial-A-Ride Fares and Reservations, AVTA
• Local Transit Fares and Passes, AVTA
• Senior Services, AVTA
• Financial Assistance, Lancaster Energy
• Contact Us, Lancaster Energy
• FAQs, Lancaster Energy
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Contact Us, Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts
• Services in Los Angeles County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Utility Assistance, Maravilla Foundation
• Service Area Finder, Maravilla Foundation
• Mobilehome Rehab Program, City of Lancaster
• Home Rehab and Turf Replacement Program, City of Lancaster
• Services, Grace Resources
• How To Apply, Los Angeles County Development Authority
• Site-Based Waiting Lists, Los Angeles County Development Authority
• How to Reach Us, Los Angeles County Development Authority