Medicare Help in San Jose

This page covers the City of San José. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California. For nearby places, see Sunnyvale, Fremont, Oakland, Salinas or Santa Cruz County.

In San Jose, the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency handles Medi-Cal and CalFresh. It also runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), paid help at home. The city adds lunches, its own power supplier and a 311 line. This page is for Downtown, East San Jose, Alum Rock, Evergreen, Berryessa, Willow Glen, Almaden and Alviso. If a renewal letter came in English and your mother reads Vietnamese, start with the table below. Several offices here list help in Vietnamese, Spanish and Chinese.

Local offices in San Jose

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 San Jose?

You can apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at (408) 758-3800, or at the Benefit Assistance Center on Senter Road. The county's contact page comes in Spanish and Vietnamese. If you already get benefits, call the worker named at the top of your last notice. If you can't find it and only get Medi-Cal, call (408) 758-3600.

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. With both, see Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

For IHSS, call (408) 792-1600 on weekdays, or bring the form to West Julian Street. Your doctor fills out a health form, and IHSS can't start without it. To hire a caregiver, ask the Public Authority Registry at (408) 350-3206. See IHSS in California.

Where can older adults get lunch in San Jose?

The city serves lunch at 14 community centers to people 60 and older. It asks for a $5 donation, and guests under 60 pay $15. First, get a yellow nutrition card from your center. Most serve at 11:30 in the morning on weekdays, and you may need to book ahead, the city says.

The county lists more lunch sites run by community groups. Two are the Vietnamese American Services Center, (408) 518-6200, and Yu-Ai Kai, a Japanese American senior center, (408) 297-4979. The county also lists free food bank groceries at Mayfair, Seven Trees, Southside and Evergreen.

If your income is low, ask the site manager about free bus passes or gas cards. For Meals on Wheels, call Sourcewise at (408) 350-3200, option 1. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in San Jose?

For free Medicare counseling in San Jose, call HICAP at Sourcewise, (408) 350-3200, and choose option 2. You can also call the state line at 1-800-434-0222. Counselors help you compare plans and find help with costs. HICAP doesn't sell, recommend or endorse any insurance, Sourcewise says, and Pair Team doesn't sell plans either.

How do I get rides with VTA ACCESS?

VTA ACCESS gives shared rides to people whose disability keeps them off VTA buses and light rail. Age alone doesn't qualify you. Fill out a one-page form called a Data Card, then do a phone interview, and VTA mails its answer within 21 days. The Data Card comes in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

A standard ride costs $4 one way, and a premium ride outside the standard area costs $16. To book, call (408) 321-2380 one to three days ahead. With Medi-Cal, your plan also gives rides to medical visits.

How do I lower my power bill in San Jose?

In San Jose, PG&E sends the bill, but San José Clean Energy supplies the power. First, call PG&E at 1-866-743-5832 to ask about CARE. It takes 30 to 35 percent off your electric bill and 20 percent off gas. Medi-Cal, CalFresh or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can qualify you, the state utility commission says. Once you have CARE, San José Clean Energy adds its SJ Cares discount of 10 percent within a month.

If you're behind, Sacred Heart Community Service runs LIHEAP here at 1-877-278-6455. It puts a credit on your bill once a year, but money is tight, so some people who qualify are turned down. See LIHEAP in California.

How do I get housing help in San Jose?

The Santa Clara County Housing Authority's Section 8 waiting list hasn't opened since 2006, it says. Instead, you join its interest lists online. People who live or work in the county, or did in the last five years, get preference. With a voucher, you usually pay about a third of your income in rent. The lobby on West Julian Street is closed some Fridays, so call (408) 275-8770 before you go. See housing help in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In San Jose, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a Medi-Cal renewal or a past-due PG&E bill. Your advocate makes the calls and follows up until there's an answer.

• Help you apply for Medi-Cal and IHSS, and get your doctor's health form in.
• Help you get a yellow nutrition card and a ride to lunch at your community center.
• Help you apply for CARE so SJ Cares shows up, and for Sacred Heart's yearly bill credit.
• Help you fill out the VTA ACCESS Data Card or join the Housing Authority's interest lists.

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 Santa Clara, Milpitas or Campbell. Is this my page?

If you live in Santa Clara, Milpitas or Campbell, part of this page is yours. The county offices, Sourcewise, VTA ACCESS and the Housing Authority serve the whole county. The city lunches and San José Clean Energy are for San Jose. For lunch, call the Santa Clara Senior Center at (408) 615-3170 or Milpitas's Barbara Lee Senior Center at (408) 586-3400.

What if I get a shut-off notice from PG&E?

If you get a shut-off notice from PG&E, call the company the same day and ask for a payment plan. Then call Sacred Heart and say you have a notice. LIHEAP has crisis help for homes with a 24 to 48 hour shut-off notice, the state says.

My power comes from Silicon Valley Power. Can I still get help?

Yes, Sacred Heart's bill credit covers Silicon Valley Power and City of Palo Alto bills, and energy that's part of your rent. CARE is for PG&E customers, so ask your city utility what it offers.

Is there help with my water bill?

Yes, Sacred Heart and Valley Water can pay up to $1,000 toward a home water bill, once a program year. Call (408) 916-5014 to ask.

Where can I get free legal help in San Jose?

For free legal help in San Jose, call SALA at (408) 295-5991 if you're 60 or older. It helps with Medi-Cal, Medicare, IHSS, housing and wills, with no income test. SALA meets people at city centers such as Alma and Mayfair, so book by calling the center.

Sources

• Contact the Department of Employment and Benefit Services, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency
• Apply for In-Home Supportive Services, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency
• Department of Aging and Adult Services, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency
• Eat Healthy Meals at a Dine-In Site, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency
• Get a Ride to Your Dine-In Meal Site, County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency
• Programs for Older Adults 50+, City of San José
• About San José 311, City of San José
• Santa Clara: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• Santa Clara Medicare: HICAP, Sourcewise
• Home Delivered Meals: Meals on Wheels, Sourcewise
• ACCESS Paratransit, VTA
• Get Food, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
• Discount Programs, San José Clean Energy
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• Utility Assistance, Sacred Heart Community Service
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, California Department of Community Services and Development
• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), Santa Clara County Housing Authority
• Senior Adults Legal Assistance
• Santa Clara County, 211 Bay Area
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS