Medicare Help in Palmdale

This page covers the City of Palmdale. For nearby cities, see Medicare help in Lancaster or Medicare help in Los Angeles. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Palmdale, Los Angeles County's DPSS handles Medi-Cal, CalFresh and paid help at home, called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The city runs Legacy Commons and a food bank called South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES). The city's own provider, Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC), buys your power, and Southern California Edison (SCE) delivers it. This page also serves Acton, Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock, Llano and Pearblossom. If a desert summer left you with a power bill you can't pay, start with the table below.

Local offices in Palmdale

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because DPSS decides, and one Medi-Cal form also checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. 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 Palmdale?

You can apply for Medi-Cal or CalFresh at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-866-613-3777, or at a DPSS office. DPSS has no Medi-Cal office inside Palmdale, so the closest is about 10 miles north, at 349-B East Avenue K-6 in Lancaster. It's open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 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, usually taken from your Social Security check. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

To apply for IHSS, call DPSS at 1-888-944-4477, and a social worker then visits your home. Read more about IHSS in California.

What does Legacy Commons offer?

Legacy Commons, at 930 East Avenue Q-9, is the city's own center for people 55 and older, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You'll find fitness classes, art and music groups, talks, free Wi-Fi and coffee.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Palmdale?

You can get free Medicare counseling in Palmdale at Legacy Commons. Counselors from the county's HICAP, the Center for Health Care Rights, meet people there. Call (661) 267-5904 to book, or 1-800-434-0222. HICAP doesn't sell insurance, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either. Open Enrollment runs each year from October 15 to December 7, and a change you make starts January 1.

How do I get Dial-A-Ride in Palmdale?

You can get AVTA Dial-A-Ride in Palmdale if you're 62 or older, with no doctor's form needed. Bring a current California ID to the AVTA office in Lancaster for a reduced fare Transit Access Pass (TAP) card. Vans then take you curb to curb anywhere in the Antelope Valley.

A one-way trip costs $3 in the city and $3.50 or $6 in the rural zones. To book, call (661) 945-9445, ext. 1, any day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same day or up to two days ahead. AVTA's Senior Annual Pass also lets you ride local buses free.

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

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

To lower your water bill, first check whether it comes from Palmdale Water District or Los Angeles County Waterworks. Palmdale Water District's Rate Assistance Program takes up to $25 a month off your service fees. People 62 and older with low income, and veterans, go first. You need to be on CARE with SCE or SoCalGas and live in a single-family home. The district takes applications each year from November through June, while spots last, it says. Call (661) 947-4111, Monday to Thursday.

For power, CARE takes about 30 percent off, EPIC says, and you apply through SCE at 1-800-655-4555. SoCalGas CARE takes 20 percent off gas at 1-800-427-2200.

For help paying a bill, call the Maravilla Foundation at 1-800-906-4651 for a LIHEAP application. It takes forms by mail only, and an answer can take 10 to 12 weeks. While you wait, ask your utility for a payment plan. See LIHEAP in California.

Where can I get free food in Palmdale?

For free food, go to SAVES at 1002 East Avenue Q-12, a city program founded in 1983. Food is given out Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and you can call (661) 267-5191. Your home must meet federal income limits. Bring your Social Security letter or other proof of income, a utility bill or lease, and a photo ID. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

Where can I get help with housing in Palmdale?

The county's housing authority, LACDA, has its Antelope Valley office in Palmdale, at 2323 East Palmdale Boulevard. Call (661) 575-1511 on a weekday. The Section 8 waiting list is closed. Its senior public housing lists last took names from August 17 to September 16, 2026, and are closed for now, LACDA says.

Palmdale's rent control covers only mobile homes, the city says. For a rent increase or an eviction, call the Housing Rights Center at 1-800-477-5977. It holds a free clinic at SAVES on the first Thursday of each month, from 2 to 4 p.m. For a bed tonight, call 211. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Palmdale, a call to us often starts with a summer power bill or a DPSS letter. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you sign up for CARE first, then apply for the water district's rate assistance between November and June.
• Get your senior TAP card, and book your first Dial-A-Ride trip.
• Gather the income papers SAVES asks for, so your first food visit goes smoothly.
• 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. Is this my page?

If you live in Lancaster, the county offices and AVTA are yours too. But EPIC, the water district, Legacy Commons and SAVES are Palmdale programs. Lancaster has its own page: Medicare help in Lancaster.

I live in Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock or Acton. Is this my page?

If you live in Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock or Acton, much of this page is yours, since SAVES and the county offices serve you. Your power and water companies may differ, so check your bills.

Is Legacy Commons free?

Legacy Commons is free to visit, and most of its activities cost nothing, the city's schedule says. Activities with a fee, such as lunch, are marked with a dollar sign.

Can I keep SCE instead of EPIC?

You can keep SCE instead of EPIC, since EPIC lets you opt out. Either way, SCE delivers your power, sends one bill and handles CARE.

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.

Sources

• Office Locations, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Lancaster - 34, Los Angeles County Services Locator
• DPSS offices near Palmdale, Los Angeles County Services Locator
• Medicare Savings Programs, Los Angeles County DPSS
• Legacy Commons for Active Seniors, City of Palmdale
• Legacy Commons Schedule of Activities, City of Palmdale
• How to Get Free Medicare Help, Center for Health Care Rights
• How to Qualify for Dial-A-Ride, Antelope Valley Transit Authority
• Dial-A-Ride Fares and Reservations, Antelope Valley Transit Authority
• Senior Services, Antelope Valley Transit Authority
• Utilities directory, City of Palmdale
• Rate Assistance Program, Palmdale Water District
• Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice
• Discounts and Rebates, Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Services in Los Angeles County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Utility Assistance, Maravilla Foundation
• South Antelope Valley Emergency Services, City of Palmdale
• Qualify for Services, SAVES, City of Palmdale
• How to Reach Us, Los Angeles County Development Authority
• Site-Based Waiting Lists, Los Angeles County Development Authority
• Housing FAQs, City of Palmdale
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS