New Hanover County

Senior Services

The New Hanover County Department of Aging Senior Center
2222 S. College Road Wilmington 28403
Phone: (910) 798-6400
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
The center provides local information and referrals. The Senior Job Placement Service connects seniors over 55 with employers in the county. Transportation for medical needs and for senior center meals. Home-delivered meals available. Dining room meals at locations in Wilmington and Castle Hayne. Social, travel, literary and drama clubs. Fitness activities and dance and arts classes. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program; the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

The Foster Grandparent Program
Phone: (910) 798-6400
Works with at-risk students in Head Start programs, New Hanover County schools, Girls Inc., and the Kelly House. Participants must be 60 or older and meet income eligibility requirement. The program provides a monthly stipend and training. Income is tax-free and does not affect other benefits.

Katie B. Hines Senior Center
Phone: (910) 458-6609
308 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach
Provides social activities for seniors ages 50 and older. Lunch at noon Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bingo at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Center is open all day Wednesday to come and play cards. Other activities include dancing, cards, games and bingo.

Social Security Administration
1528 S. 16th Street, Wilmington 28401
Phone: (910) 815-4733 or (800) 772-1213
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
To apply, you need a birth certificate and proof of last year’s earnings (W-2 form). Other information may be required.

Elderhaus, Alper Center
1950 Amphitheater Drive, Wilmington 28401
Phone: (910) 343-8209
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Provides daytime supervision and an alternative to early or inappropriate long-term institutionalization for adults 18 and up. (Most are 60 and older.) Services include respite care, noon meal, snacks, entertainment, activities and a registered nurse to administer medication. Weekend respite care available.

Social Services

Social Services Office
1650 Greenfield Street, Wilmington 28401
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 798-3400

What They Provide
Here are a few of the programs you can access through DSS. Food stamps. This federal program helps qualifying families buy food through use of EBT or Electronic Transfer cards. EBTs cannot be used for tobacco, pet food, paper products, soaps or alcohol. U.S. citizenship or eligible foreign national status is required. Adults able to work may be required to register for work programs. A special program for Women, Infants and Children called WIC gives extra benefits for small children and mothers who are pregnant or nursing. Here’s what you need to bring when you apply: Photo ID, Social Security cards or numbers for all in household, Proof of residence (lease, rent or mortgage receipts, utility bills), Proof of income such as pay stubs, pension or SSI papers, Bank statements or passbooks, Utility bills, Proof of unpaid medical prescriptions, Proof of child care costs, Medicaid Administered jointly by the federal government and the state, Medicaid pays medical bills for families with children, adults 65 and over, people who are sightless or otherwise disabled and pregnant mothers, who qualify economically. This year Medicaid is administering a new prescription payment program, and help may be required for some eligible people who want to apply.

Social Security
1528 S. 16th Street, Wilmington 28401
Phone: (910) 815-4733 or (800) 772-1213
The U.S. Social Security Administration handles Social Security issues like pension payments, as well as the Supplemental Security Income program. SSI makes payments to qualifying adults or children who are disabled or blind with limited income and resources. A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that keeps someone from working or doing other important things, is expected to last at least one year or is expected to result in death. Residents of New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties who need help with Social Security, need a card, have lost their card, or wish to apply for SSI benefits must visit the Social Security office.