Need Financial Assistance?
The Town of Bedford Wants to Help!

The Town of Bedford, the Commonwealth and other agencies offer a variety of programs to help reduce taxes and many other expenses for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, income-qualified households and others. We encourage residents to make use of these programs, and to refer family, friends and neighbors who may be eligible. Participation is confidential.

To help you make informed decisions about these programs and many other opportunities, you are invited to call Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727 if you are under 60 or the Bedford Council on Aging at 781-275-6825 if you are 60 or older to ask questions and receive information.

If you would like one or more copies of the paper version of the Financial Assistance Summary, please contact Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Bedford Council on Aging at 781-275-6825 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Please be sure to include your address and phone so we can contact you with any questions.

Tax Assistance
Property Tax Exemptions. The Bedford Board of Assessors offers exemptions that can reduce your property taxes for seniors, those with disabilities, veterans and others. For more information, call them at 781-275-0046 or go to their exemptions page.
Assistance Filling Out Tax Forms. The Bedford Council on Aging and the Bedford Free Public Library have joined with AARP/IRS to offer free assistance in filling out tax forms through trained volunteers. You may call the COA at 781-275-6825 or the Library at 781-275-9440 for appointments starting in February.

Employment
Senior Employment Program. Bedford residents 65 and older who meet income qualifications may apply to work for a Town department for 100 hours at $8/hour. For more information, call the Bedford Council on Aging at 781-275-6825.
Job Match Program. Bedford Youth and Family Services offers a program matching Bedford youth with a variety of jobs. For more information, call Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727 or go to the Job Match application.
Career Place. Woburn Career Place, 781-932-5500 or 888-273-WORK(9673), is the state's employment agency to match job-seekers with jobs. The office is located at Trade Center Park, 100 Sylvan Road, G100, Woburn, MA 01801.

Housing
Subsidized Housing. The Bedford Housing Authority offers subsidized housing for those who meet income guidelines. For more information, call 781-275-2428.
Affordable Housing. Also, from time to time, there are opportunities in Bedford for other affordable rentals or home ownership. For more information, call the Town Manager's Office at 781-275-1111.

Making Home Affordable for refinancing and modifying mortgage loans. The Making Home Affordable Program is part of the Obama Administration's broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy and the housing market back on track. The Making Home Affordable Program offers two different potential solutions for borrowers: (1) refinancing mortgage loans, through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), and (2) modifying mortgage loans, through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). Our consumer website, www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov, provides homeowners with detailed information about these programs along with self-assessment tools and calculators to empower borrowers with the resources they need to determine whether they might be eligible for a modification or a refinance under the Administration's program.
Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM) is a not-for-profit agency that provides recycled furniture and household goods, at no charge, to individuals and families in surrounding communities who are in need. http://www.hgrm.org/index.htm

Home Heating Assistance
Fuel Assistance. Bedford Youth and Family Services, 781-275-7727, offers help for residents under 60 who would like to apply for the Fuel Assistance cash benefit to pay for home heating. The Bedford Council on Aging, 781-275-6825, assists those 60 and over. Call to make an appointment to go over eligibility and fill out the application.
Weatherization. The Weatherization program will install attic and/or wall insulation and perform air sealing measures to prevent loss of heat from your home. The application for this program is the same as for Fuel Assistance.

Heartwap (Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Program). This program will repair or replace your primary heating system. The application for this program is the same as for Fuel Assistance.

The Salvation Army's Good Neighbor Energy Fund. The Salvation Army's Good Neighbor Energy Fund also offers help with home heating bills to those who do not qualify for Fuel Assistance. For more information, call 1-800-334-3047.

Benefits Assistance
Bedford residents under 60 should call Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727 while residents 60 and over should call the Bedford Council on Aging at 781-275-6825 to make an appointment to review eligibility for food stamps, home health care, health insurance and other state and federal benefits.

Veterans Services
Veterans and their families are invited to call the Bedford Veterans Agent at 781-275-1328 for assistance with Veterans Benefits.

Assistance Obtaining Food
The Bedford Community Table/Pantry. The Bedford Community Table/Pantry offers bags of groceries to those who qualify and a supper for all most Thursdays at 5 p.m. at the Town Center building. For more information, call them at 781-275-7355.
Minuteman Senior Services. Minuteman Senior Services offers lunches three days a week at the Town Center and home-delivered meals five days a week to those over 60. For more information, call 781-275-8542.

Food Stamps.
Food Stamps are available from the State Department of Transitional Assistance. Those under 60 may call Bedford Youth and Family Services at 781-275-7727 and those 60 or over may call the Bedford Council on Aging at 781-275-6825 for an application or assistance completing an application, or you may contact the Department of Transitional Assistance, 131 Davidson Street, Lowell, MA 01852, 978-446-2400. An online application is also available.

Health, Mental Health, and Durable Medical Equipment

Health Services. The Bedford Board of Health offers a variety of clinics and in-home services. For more information, call them at 781-275- 6507.
Mental Health Services. Bedford Youth and Family Services offers counseling to all Bedford residents. For more information, call 781-275-7727.
Durable Medical Equipment. The Bedford Council on Aging, 781-275-6825, provides loans of wheelchairs to Bedford residents, while the Bedford Board of Health, 781-275-7727, loans all other durable medical equipment.

School Assistance
Fees for school lunches may be waived or reduced for those who are eligible. To learn more, call the School Department Business Office at 781-275-7708. You may also download a free or reduced lunch form.

Transportation
Bedford Local Transit. The Bedford Local Transit (BLT) offers wheel-chair accessible transportation within Bedford and to shopping malls, hospitals, and other sites in Burlington, Billerica, and Concord. For more information call 781-275-2255. The BLT is partially supported by the MBTA.

Wheels of Life. The Bedford Council on Aging provides transportation to medical appointments within certain guidelines. For more information, call them at 781-275-6825. Transportation is provided by both volunteers and taxi service supported by a grant from Carleton-Willard Village.

The Ride. The MBTA's The Ride offers wheelchair-accessible transportation to those with disabilities who are pre-approved. For more information, call them at 617-222-5123.
Bus Service. The MBTA bus service serves Bedford and surrounding towns. For information, call 1-800-392-6100.

Cell Phones
Safelink. Clients receiving public assistance can apply for a TracFone Pay as You Go phone that is initially charged with 84 minutes. Clients must be receiving at least one of the following: (1) emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children; (2) Supplemental Security Income; (3) low income home energy assistance; (4) food stamps; (5) MassHealth; (6) transitional aid to families with dependent children; and (7) fuel assistance. For more information and an application, visit https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx

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