AM I ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE?
Public assistance, such as medical, food, cash, or utility assistance, is available for many low-income families. These programs are here to help you and your family weather difficult times, such as periods of unemployment.
If you need financial assistance, our financial assistance lawyers and paralegals can guide you for medical, food, cash, or utility assistance. Take a look at the eligibility criteria below to see if you would qualify, then give us a call.
Note that, for certain public assistance, you must actively look for a job or participate in an employment or training program. Also, if child support is legally available to you, you must file for it in order to receive some public assistance.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
General eligibility requirements are:
- Adults between 19 and 64 who are at or below 133% of the Federal Income
- Poverty Guidelines
- Individuals aged 65 and older and/or blind or disabled
- Families with children under age 21
- Special medical conditions
Income includes things such as wages, social security and pension. Most welfare benefits are not included. Document requirements include state ID, social security number, proof of residency, citizenship status (or lawfully admitted alien or refugee status) and the total number of household members.
FOOD ASSISTANCE
Food assistance is based on monthly income and resources, by household size. These numbers can be higher if there is an elderly or disabled family member. Emergency benefits might be available for very low income levels.
CASH ASSISTANCE
Eligibility for cash assistance requires that you be a citizen or lawfully admitted resident, a resident of Pennsylvania and one of the following:
- You are pregnant
- Your income is under the poverty guideline for your household size
- You live with your dependent child or a dependent child who is your relative
You are limited to only receiving cash assistance for a total of 60 months (5 years) over your lifetime. You will need to develop a plan to get off cash assistance.
UTILITIES ASSISTANCE
Any low-income family can submit a heating assistance application from November 1st to the end of March. Payments are sent directly to the utility company or fuel dealer and credited to your account.
HOW WE CAN HELP
We can help you determine what types of assistance you are eligible for.
Then we can help you secure that assistance or appeal a denial.
GIVE TODAY TO
SUPPORT OUR WORK
We rely on the charitable contributions of donors to fund the work we do. Every dollar goes toward working for those who don’t have the resources to protect themselves. Click below to give today.