Last verified: October 2026
Which senior programs does the Pennsylvania Lottery fund?
Lottery profits fund five groups of programs for older Pennsylvanians: free transit and shared rides, Area Agency on Aging services such as meals and senior centers, in-home and facility-based care services, the PACE and PACENET prescription programs, and, with slots revenue, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate.
In 2024-25 the Lottery reported more than $274 million to Area Agencies on Aging, $373.9 million for care services to 23,869 residents, $128.7 million for PACE and PACENET and $168.7 million for free transit rides.
Sources: PA Lottery Benefits Guide.
Who qualifies for PACE and PACENET prescription help?
PACE and PACENET are for Pennsylvania residents 65 or older who have lived in the state at least 90 days; PACE covers single applicants with prior-year income up to $14,500 ($17,700 married), and PACENET covers $14,501 to $33,500 single and $17,701 to $41,500 married.
Apply by phone at 1-800-225-7223. These are prescription programs, not the LIFE all-inclusive care program.
Who qualifies for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate?
Pennsylvanians 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older qualify with household income of $48,110 or less; rebates reach up to $1,000 for the lowest-income tier, with supplemental rebates of $190 to $500 for some applicants, and 2025 applications are due December 31, 2026.
Sources: PA Department of Revenue.
What is the OPTIONS program?
OPTIONS is the Department of Aging's in-home program for Pennsylvanians 60 and older with unmet needs that affect daily functioning: adult day services, care management, home-delivered meals and personal care, with no income limit but a sliding-scale co-payment, arranged through the county Area Agency on Aging.
Supplemental services such as home modifications and emergency response systems vary by AAA. Call the Department of Aging at 717-783-1550 to be connected locally.
How do Lottery dollars reach Pittsburgh-area seniors?
Most Lottery funding reaches older adults in the seven counties through the county Area Agencies on Aging, which run senior centers, home-delivered meals, OPTIONS and care management, and through transit authorities that carry older riders free; PACE, PACENET and the rent rebate are applied for directly with the state.
Call your county AAA to ask which Lottery-funded services have waiting lists.
Lottery-funded programs: what they are and are not
| They are | They are not | |
|---|---|---|
| PACE/PACENET | prescription cost help for 65+ | the LIFE care program |
| Rent rebate | up to $1,000 for eligible households | automatic; you must apply |
| OPTIONS | in-home help for 60+, sliding co-pay | Medicaid |
| Free transit | fixed-route rides for older riders | door-to-door medical transport everywhere |
