Medicare Help in Santa Barbara County

This page covers all of Santa Barbara County. For the statewide rules, start with Medicare help in California.

In Santa Barbara County, you apply for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and the Medicare Savings Programs through DSS. DSS also runs In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), paid help at home. Family Service Agency is the Area Agency on Aging. This page is for Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Goleta, Orcutt, Carpinteria, Guadalupe and the Santa Ynez Valley. If you live up north, the table lists Santa Maria and Lompoc offices too. To the north, see Medicare help in San Luis Obispo County, and to the south, Oxnard.

Local offices in Santa Barbara County

Not sure you qualify? Apply anyway, because DSS 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 in Santa Barbara County?

You can apply for Medi-Cal online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 866-404-4007, or at a DSS office. All three offices are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the county says. In Santa Maria, a second office at 1444 South Broadway also takes Medi-Cal forms. If you already have Medi-Cal or CalFresh, call 1-844-289-4682 with questions.

The same form checks you for the Medicare Savings Programs. They can pay your copays and the $202.90 a month Medicare costs you in 2026. Once you're on Medi-Cal, your plan here is usually CenCal Health. See Medicare and Medi-Cal together in California.

How do I get IHSS in Santa Barbara County?

To get IHSS in Santa Barbara County, call the IHSS office nearest you. That's (805) 346-8303 in Santa Maria, (805) 681-4550 in Santa Barbara or (805) 737-6020 in Lompoc. You apply by phone, the county says. If you don't have Medi-Cal yet, IHSS checks and starts a referral for you. Since April 1, 2026, the county has paid IHSS caregivers $20.07 an hour, the state's wage chart says.

Next, your doctor fills out a health form called the SOC 873. The county must get it within 45 days, or you have to start over. Then a social worker visits your home. To hire a screened caregiver, call the county's caregiver registry at 866-313-1353. See IHSS in California.

Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Santa Barbara County?

For free Medicare counseling in Santa Barbara County, call HICAP at Family Service Agency, (805) 842-5148, or the state line, 1-800-434-0222. Counselors help you compare drug plans, find help with costs and sort out bills. Each fall, Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and changes start January 1. HICAP and Pair Team don't sell plans.

How do I get a ride in Santa Barbara County?

At 65 or older, or with a Medicare card, a bus ride on the south coast costs $1.25, the transit district says. In Lompoc, a city bus costs 75 cents at 65 or older, the city says.

• Smooth Senior Dial-A-Ride takes people 60 and older anywhere in Santa Maria and Orcutt, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A trip costs $3, and drivers don't carry change. Call (805) 922-8476 a week ahead if you can.
• Easy Lift Dial-A-Ride serves the south coast, Winchester Canyon to Carpinteria, for people whose disability keeps them off the bus. A ride costs $5 one way. Ask about signing up at (805) 845-8963, then book at (805) 681-1181.
• Lompoc paratransit is a shared ride for people with disabilities. Send in the city's form first, then call (805) 736-7666 to book.
• Medi-Cal rides: CenCal Health members book them at 1-855-659-4600, the plan says. See Medi-Cal rides in California.

Where can older adults get lunch in Santa Barbara County?

Family Service Agency serves weekday lunch to people 60 and older at sites around the county. Its site list is under review, so call (805) 842-5148 to check the time and save a seat.

If you can't get out, the Foodbank brings two bags of groceries a month to older adults with low income. You need a doctor's note saying you can't get there on your own. Call (805) 967-5741. Monthly food money comes from CalFresh.

How do I lower my power bill in Santa Barbara County?

To lower your power bill in Santa Barbara County, ask the company that sends it about California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE). Where you live decides if that's PG&E or Southern California Edison, which sends the bill in Santa Barbara and Goleta. CARE takes 30 to 35 percent off your electric bill, the state utility commission says. SoCalGas sends most gas bills here, and its CARE takes 20 percent off gas.

In Lompoc, the city sends the electric bill. Its rate help takes up to $18 a month off if your income is low. Apply online with your ID and proof of income for each adult in your home, the city says.

If you're behind, call CommUnify at 805-617-2897 about LIHEAP. Lompoc homes use a separate LIHEAP form. See LIHEAP in California.

What a Pair Team advocate does

In Santa Barbara County, a call to us about Medicare often comes with a ride between the north county and the south coast.

• Apply for Medi-Cal with you in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara or Lompoc, then call IHSS to start a referral.
• Sign you up for Smooth's Senior Dial-A-Ride or Easy Lift, and book your rides.
• Set up a HICAP appointment through Family Service Agency.
• Help you apply for CARE, LIHEAP or Lompoc's electric rate credit.

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 Goleta, Orcutt or Carpinteria. Is this my page?

Yes, this page covers Goleta, Orcutt, Carpinteria and every other town in Santa Barbara County. Orcutt is in Smooth's ride area, and Goleta and Carpinteria are in Easy Lift's. The county Housing Authority has a Goleta office at 5575 Armitos Avenue, (805) 967-3402.

Why do some papers still say Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens?

Some papers still say Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens because that group used to run aging services here. Family Service Agency took over on October 1, 2026, here and in San Luis Obispo County, a local news report says. For Medicare counseling or meals, call (805) 842-5148.

How do I get on a Housing Authority waitlist in Santa Barbara County?

To get on a Housing Authority waitlist in Santa Barbara County, apply online or at an office. Some senior buildings have open lists, such as Parkside Garden in Lompoc and Harry's House in Santa Ynez, for people 62 and older. In the City of Santa Barbara, call (805) 965-1071. See housing help in California.

Is there adult day health care in Santa Maria?

Yes, Santa Maria has an adult day health center, the Santa Maria Wisdom Center at 2255 South Depot Street, (805) 354-5320. Medi-Cal can pay for it if you qualify, the state says. See adult day care in California.

Who do I call if an older adult is being abused?

Call Adult Protective Services at 844-751-6729, or report online at any hour if it isn't an emergency, the county says. For abuse in a nursing home, call the ombudsman at 805-922-1236. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.

Sources

• Social Services Office Locations, County of Santa Barbara
• Got Questions About Benefits?, County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services
• In-Home Supportive Services, County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services
• County IHSS Wage Rates, California Department of Social Services
• Report Abuse, County of Santa Barbara Department of Social Services
• Department Contacts, CenCal Health
• Transportation, CenCal Health
• Area Agency on Aging, Family Service Agency
• New nonprofit named Area Agency on Aging after SLO County group steps down, The Tribune via Yahoo News
• Medicare Counseling, Family Service Agency
• Contact the Area Agency on Aging, Family Service Agency
• Santa Barbara County Meals, Family Service Agency
• Santa Barbara: Services in My County, California Department of Aging
• Senior Dial-A-Ride, Smooth Inc.
• Contact, Easy Lift Transportation
• Dial-A-Ride Eligibility, Easy Lift Transportation
• Fares and Passes, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
• City of Lompoc Transit, City of Lompoc
• Conservation and Electric Rate Assistance, City of Lompoc
• Elwin Mussell Senior Center, City of Santa Maria
• Older Adult Nutrition Program, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
• Contact Us, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
• Utility Assistance, CommUnify
• Services in Santa Barbara County, California Department of Community Services and Development
• CARE/FERA Program, California Public Utilities Commission
• California Alternate Rates for Energy, PG&E
• Other Electric Utilities Within the PG&E Service Area, PG&E
• California Alternate Rates for Energy, SoCalGas
• Wait List, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara
• Contact Us, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara
• Waiting List Guide, Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara
• Medicare Savings Programs in California, DHCS
• 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles, CMS