Assistance Programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating bills with a cash grant, plus a separate Crisis grant when heat is shut off, about to be, or broken. Apply at COMPASS during the season; the LIHEAP Helpline is 1-866-857-7095.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Pennsylvanians: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system fixes that lower future bills. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and run through Community Action Agencies in every county, overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Healthy food on an eWIC card, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Start a pre-application online at pawic.com, or call 1-800-942-9467 to reach your closest WIC office.

Pennsylvania SNAP loads monthly food money on an EBT ACCESS card. Apply online at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), at your county assistance office, or by mail. The DHS Helpline is 1-800-692-7462.

Pennsylvania CHIP covers uninsured children and teens up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance, with no family income limit that blocks enrollment. For most families CHIP is free; others pay low monthly premiums. Apply online or call the CHIP helpline at 1-800-986-5437.

Medical Assistance is Pennsylvania's Medicaid: free or low-cost health coverage delivered through HealthChoices managed care plans. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Apply at COMPASS, your county assistance office, or by phone at 1-866-550-4355.

Pennsylvania's cash help for low-income families with children, paid on the EBT ACCESS card. Adults are limited to 60 months of TANF in a lifetime, though Extended TANF can continue benefits in specific hardship situations. Apply at COMPASS or your county assistance office.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your initial claim online at the Department of Labor and Industry, or by phone with the UC Service Center at 1-888-313-7284, Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm. File weekly certifications through PA Teleclaims.

Pennsylvania's new refundable state tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers, worth 10 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, up to $805. It starts with the 2026 tax season, and if you qualify for the federal EITC you automatically qualify. Claim it on your PA-40 state return.

Free, plain-language legal information for Pennsylvanians and a directory of the legal aid programs that serve each county, from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Covers eviction, benefits, family law, and more, with a Legal Help Finder to reach a local provider.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Pennsylvania phone, or text your zip code to 898-211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance: housing, utilities, food, childcare, and more. PA 211 covers all 67 counties around the clock through regional United Way centers.