The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Established by law in 1971, ticket sales began in 1972 and since then the Lottery has contributed more than $35.1 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance and local services including senior centers and meals. The Pennsylvania Lottery operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
LOCAL SERVICES, SENIOR CENTERS AND MEALS
Pennsylvania’s 52 Area Agencies on Aging, or AAAs, cover all 67 counties and serve as the local representatives for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Several senior centers across the state are overseen by the AAAs. They help coordinate services at a local level that help seniors stay well. Services include:
In 2021–22 alone, funds contributed to the AAAs helped provide 9 million meals served at senior centers and delivered to homes. That’s 24,600 meals per day!
FREE AND REDUCED-FARE TRANSPORTATION
Did you know that anyone age 65 or older can ride for free on fixed-route public transportation in Pennsylvania? Commuter rail trips are just one dollar each. Additionally, PA residents 65 and over also qualify for reduced ride-share services.
More than 20.6 million free transit rides and 2 million shared rides were provided to seniors in 2021– 22 thanks to PA Lottery funds.
CARE SERVICES FOR OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS
The PA Lottery helps keep seniors healthy and safe by funding care services including long-term living services at home, in a care facility or in the community for qualifying older residents.
More than $348 million went toward care services for over 27,000 residents in 2021–22.
LOW-COST PRESCRIPTION SERVICES
As health care costs continue to rise, the PA Lottery helps qualified older Pennsylvanians 65 and over catch a break. Those who qualify can gain access to lower-cost prescription medications through programs such as PACE and PACENET.
In 2021–22, older Pennsylvanians who were enrolled in these programs received over 4 million prescriptions, and Lottery funding helped fill nearly 11,000 prescriptions, every day.
PROPERTY TAX AND RENT REBATES
In 2021–22, this program, which is funded by the PA Lottery and slots revenue, helped provide an average refund of $480 to eligible Pennsylvanians 65 and older; widows and widowers 50 and older; and people with disabilities 18 years of age and older.
In 2021–22, rebates were provided to over 444,119 households and an average of $584,234 was refunded, every day.
HOW TO ACCESS THESE GREAT BENEFITS
If you feel that you or someone you know may qualify for some of the programs the PA Lottery helps fund for older Pennsylvanians, there are many ways to get more information.
For Local Services, Senior Centers & Meals, visit www.aging.pa.gov or call the Department of Aging at 717-783-1550.
For Free & Reduced-Fare Transportation, contact your local Area Agency on Aging, visit www.PennDOT.gov and review the Travel in PA section, or call the Department of Transportation at 717-783-8025.
For Care Services, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or call the Long-Term Care Helpline, toll-free, at 1-800-753-8827.
For Low-Cost Prescription Assistance, visit www.aging.pa.gov, ask your pharmacist, or call toll-free at 1-800-225-7223.
For Property Tax & Rent Rebates, visit www.revenue.pa.gov or call toll-free at 1-888-222-9190.
For all other general information about benefits that are funded by the PA Lottery, visit www.palottery.state.pa.us/Benefits-Info.