PUBLIC BENEFITS

There are several government programs that provide assistance to low-income people and families in Pennsylvania. Most of them are run by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) through its local offices – also called County Assistance Offices (CAOs). See here for an overview of these programs.

You can apply for all of DPW’s programs with COMPASS, or in-person at your local county assistance office. Click here for the application in English and here for the Spanish version.
If you have questions you can call the Department of Public Welfare Helpline toll-free at 1-800-692-7462.

Cash Assistance

  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) provides cash assistance to families with children and to pregnant women.
  • General Assistance (GA) provides cash to certain categories of people, including people whom a doctor says are disabled and unable to work, people caring for a child or disabled adult with no other caretaker, children living with non-relatives, survivors of domestic violence, and some other groups of people.
  • Eligibility: To be eligible, you must meet income and resource requirements, be a resident of PA, and be a citizen or a type of qualified lawful resident. See here for more information on eligibility and here for answers to frequently asked questions. How much you get will depend on your household size and whether you have other income

Family Size

1

2

3

4

5

6

Each additional member

Maximum Grant

$205

$316

$403

$497

$589

$670

+ $83
  • Social Security Disability and SSI: The Social Security Administration provides cash to people with long-term physical or mental disabilities, to those 65+, and the blind. The SSI program is for low-income people, and the SSDI program is for people with significant work histories. SSI and SSDI provide more money each month than TANF and GA but have a longer and more involved application process. The Social Security website has a lot of information on SSI and SSDI. Click here for the SSA benefit eligibility screening tool. You can apply for SSDI online. To apply for SSI, visit your local SSA office

Health Insurance
There are several different government health insurance programs for people with low incomes, children, or who are elderly or disabled. See here for an overview of health insurance programs.

  • COBRA: If you are recently laid off, this program that may help you and your family keep your employer-provided health insurance for a while even after losing your job. See here for basic information on the program and here for answers to some FAQs.
  • Medicaid and Medical Assistance: Medicaid, sometimes also called Medical Assistance, is health insurance administered by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in conjunction with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) which provide health care for low-income individuals and families. Depending upon your eligibility category, covered services may include: physician and clinic visits; inpatient hospital care; home health care; medical supplies and equipment; nursing facility care; inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and drug and alcohol services; prescription drugs; dental and other medically necessary services.

    Eligibility: Anyone who gets TANF, GA, or SSI automatically receives Medical Assistance. Most people who receive MA qualify because they meet income and resource guidelines, and fit into one of the program’s categories. Categories include children, pregnant women, families with minor children, people with disabilities, people 65+, and many others. Income and resource limits vary according to the category you fit into. See this brochure for detailed information on eligibility for MA.
  • CHIP: The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a low-cost health insurance program for children whose families have too much money to qualify for Medicaid but do not have health insurance. It is administered by private insurance companies under contract to the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance. You can apply online through COMPASS, by phone or by mail.

  • AdultBasic: The adultBasic program is unfortunately set to end in February 2011. If you are currently on adultBasic and lose your health insurance due to the program's ending, you may be eligible for other types of free or low-cost health insurance. If you have too much income for regular Medical Assistance, you may be eligible for Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) which has higher income limits. If you have been uninsured for six months and have a health condition that makes it hard for you to find new insurance, you may be eligible for PA Fair Care.  You are likely eligible for Special Care. If you are interested in sharing your story or getting involved in efforts to continue the program, contact Jonathan Stein at jstein@clsphila.org.

  • Special Care: The Special Care program provides limited-benefit health insurance to lower-income Pennsylvanians who are not eligible for Medical Assistance and cannot afford private coverage.   If you were on adultBasic, you are probably eligible for Special Care.  You must have income less than 200% of the federal poverty level (about $21,780 for a household of 1, or $37,060 for a household of three) and live in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia counties.

    To apply for Special Care, call 1-866-282-2702 or go to the Special Care website, or you can also send the application by mail to: 
    Caring Foundation, P.O. Box 13449, Philadelphia, PA 19101-9552.

  • Medicare: Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the Social Security Administration. People on SSDI become automatically eligible for Medicare after two years. Otherwise you can qualify for Medicare by being 65+. Click here for an eligibility tool. You can apply online or on the phone or in-person at your local SSA office. Individuals covered by Medicare have a choice between "Original Medicare" and an HMO plan called "Medicare Advantage." Medicare benefits include hospital visits, doctors visits, prescription drug coverage, and more, depending on the type of Medicare plan you choose. There are monthly premiums and other cost-sharing for most people, but low-income people can get help with their monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and other cost-sharing through the Medicare Savings Program. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE for more information.
  • MAWD: The Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program provides health insurance for people who work at least one hour per month, are under 65, and have a disability, but have too much income to qualify for other types of medical assistance. See here for more information and eligibility requirements.

  • PA Fair Care:  Pa Fair Care is a medical insurance program born out the federal health care reform.  It provides medical insurance to Pennsylvanians who have pre-existing conditions and have been denied insurance by private insurance companies.  Applicants must have been uninsured for six months prior to the date of application. PA Fair Care costs $283 per month plus co-pays and co-insurance.

  • PACE and PACENET: PACE and PACENET are programs that can help pay for prescription drugs. You may be eligible if you are 65+ and meet the income guidelines ($23,500 for a single person, and $31,500 for a couple) and are not already receiving drug coverage through Medical Assistance. You can apply online or by calling 1-800-225-7223.

 Other Benefits

  • Food Stamps: Food stamps can be used like cash to buy food at most grocery stores. Most low-income people qualify for Food Stamps. All that is considered is your monthly income. Your resources don’t count. How much you will get depends on your income, household size, and monthly expenses (like housing costs, utilities, and childcare). Monthly food stamp amounts range from $200 for a single person to several hundred dollars for larger households. You get your benefits each month on an electronic debit card called an EBT card. See here for the income limits.
  • Subsidized child care: Subsidized child care is also available to many low-income families through the CCIS program. Click here to find your local CCIS office and here for more information on who is eligible, how to apply, and how the program works.