Free help lines in Alabama

Medicaid and help paying Medicare costs

Medicaid for the Elderly and Disabled and Medicare Savings Programs

Alabama Medicaid Agency

• Phone 1-800-362-1504 Recipient Call Center
• Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Website medicaid.alabama.gov
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on medicaid.alabama.gov

Food help (SNAP)

Food Assistance Program (SNAP)

Alabama Department of Human Resources

• Phone 1-800-382-0499 Food Assistance Information Line outside Montgomery; Montgomery area 334-242-0143
• Website dhr.alabama.gov/food-assistance
• Online mydhr.alabama.gov
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on dhr.alabama.gov

Free Medicare counseling

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

Alabama Department of Senior Services

• Phone 1-800-243-5463 1-800-AGE-LINE; also 334-242-5743
• Website alabamaageline.gov/ship
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on alabamaageline.gov

Aging services and local help

1-800-AGE-LINE (Aging and Disability Resource Centers)

Alabama Department of Senior Services

• Phone 1-800-243-5463 Connects you to your local Area Agency on Aging / ADRC; also 334-242-5743
• Website alabamaageline.gov/adrc
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on alabamaageline.gov

Help with energy bills

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Energy Division

• Phone 1-800-392-8098 ADECA does not take applications; apply through your county Community Action Agency
• Website adeca.alabama.gov/liheap

Checked 2026-10-18 on adeca.alabama.gov

Report abuse, neglect or exploitation

Adult Protective Services

Alabama Department of Human Resources

• Phone 1-800-458-7214 Adult Abuse Hotline
• Website dhr.alabama.gov/adult-protective-services

Checked 2026-10-18 on dhr.alabama.gov

Nursing home and assisted living complaints

Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Alabama Department of Senior Services

• Phone 334-242-5753 Also 1-800-243-5463 (1-800-AGE-LINE)
• Website alabamaageline.gov/ombudsman
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on alabamaageline.gov

Report Medicare fraud and billing errors

Alabama Senior Medicare Patrol (AL SMP)

Alabama Department of Senior Services

• Phone 1-800-243-5463 Also 334-242-5743
• Website alabamaageline.gov/smp
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on alabamaageline.gov

Insurance questions and complaints

Consumer Services

Alabama Department of Insurance

• Phone 334-241-4141 After hours 334-240-4431
• Hours 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Website aldoi.gov/consumers
• Online sbs.naic.org/solar-web/pages/public/onlineComplaintForm/onlineComplaintForm.jsf?state=al

Checked 2026-10-18 on aldoi.gov

Scams and consumer complaints

Consumer Interest Division

Alabama Attorney General's Office

• Phone 1-800-392-5658 Consumer hotline; also 334-242-7335
• Website alabamaag.gov/divisions
• Online alabamaag.gov/consumer-complaint

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.alabamaag.gov

Social Security national line

Social Security Administration

Call about retirement, disability, survivor or SSI benefits, Social Security cards, Medicare enrollment and replacement Medicare cards.

• Phone 1-800-772-1213
• TTY 1-800-325-0778
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; automated phone services 24 hours a day
• Languages Spanish and other-language pages at ssa.gov/es and ssa.gov/multilanguage
• Website ssa.gov
• Online Sign in to or create a my Social Security account (benefit letters, SSA-1099, direct deposit, address change, Statement)

Waits are usually shorter in the morning and later in the week and month. The automated line, open 24 hours, can send a benefit letter, a replacement SSA-1099 or Medicare card, and change your address or phone. Find a local office at ssa.gov/locator.

Checked on www.ssa.gov

1-800-MEDICARE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Call about Medicare coverage, claims, bills, plan choices and enrollment, drug plans, and to report suspected Medicare fraud or file complaints.

• Phone 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)
• TTY 1-877-486-2048
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except some federal holidays); live chat same hours
• Languages Ask for an interpreter (medicare.gov/about-us/other-languages)
• Website medicare.gov
• Online Live chat with Medicare

This is also how to reach the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: if your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE has not solved a problem, ask the representative to send your complaint to the Ombudsman. Drug and Medicare Advantage plan complaints can also be filed online at medicare.gov/my/medicare-complaint.

Checked on www.medicare.gov

Medicare quality help line (QIO)

Acentra Health

Appeal if you think a hospital, nursing home or other Medicare provider is ending your care too soon, or complain about the quality of care.

• Phone 1-888-317-0751
• TTY 711
• Hours Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local time)
• Website acentraqio.com

Checked on acentraqio.com

Eldercare Locator

U.S. Administration for Community Living (run by USAging)

Find local help for older adults and caregivers: Area Agency on Aging, meals, transportation, in-home care, caregiver support, legal help and more.

• Phone 1-800-677-1116
• TTY 711
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern
• Languages Spanish-speaking specialist by phone; interpretation in 150 languages during business hours
• Website eldercare.acl.gov
• Email [email protected]

TTY users: call 711 and ask the relay operator to connect you to 1-800-677-1116.

Checked on eldercare.acl.gov

National Elder Fraud Hotline

U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime

For people 60+ (or family) who lost money or were targeted by fraud; case managers help you report it and connect to resources.

• Phone 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11)
• Hours Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
• Website justice.gov/elderjustice/find-help-or-report-abuse
• Online Elder Justice locator for state and local resources

Checked on www.justice.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (funded by SAMHSA)

Call, text or chat any time if you or someone you care about is in emotional distress, a mental health or substance use crisis, or thinking about suicide.

• Phone 988
• Text 988
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Languages Spanish: press 2 when calling; Spanish text and chat available; interpretation services offered
• Website 988lifeline.org
• Online Chat with a counselor online

Phone menu: press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, press 2 for Spanish. Free and confidential. In immediate danger, call 911.

Checked on 988lifeline.org