Pennsylvania financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Pennsylvania
If household costs are hard to manage, Pennsylvania has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the county, regional, or local application route when a program is administered closer to home.
Money Fit serves Pennsylvania residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
Pennsylvania uses COMPASS for several major benefit programs, while housing, legal, aging, workforce, and emergency services also use county and regional systems.
Apply for food, cash, health, child care, or energy help
COMPASS is Pennsylvania's benefits-management system for SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid, CHIP, Child Care Works, LIHEAP, and other programs.
Find nearby help statewide
PA 211 serves all 67 counties and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for free, confidential referrals to food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, employment, legal, and disaster resources.
Housing or utility assistance
PHFA provides a statewide affordable-rental search, while LIHEAP, weatherization, homelessness, and emergency-rent help are handled through county offices and local providers.
County administration matters in Pennsylvania. County Assistance Offices handle applications and case support for many DHS programs. Child Care Works uses regional Early Learning Resource Centers, while housing authorities, weatherization agencies, aging offices, and legal-aid providers serve specific counties or regions.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with SNAP or WIC when the household may qualify. For food needed sooner, Pennsylvania's regional food-bank network and PA 211 can help locate pantries, meal programs, and other local food resources.
Pennsylvania SNAP
SNAP provides grocery benefits to eligible Pennsylvania households. Applications can be submitted online through COMPASS, in person at a County Assistance Office, or by paper application.
Pennsylvania WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local WIC offices complete enrollment.
WIC Hotline: 800-WIC-WINS (800-942-9467)
Feeding Pennsylvania food-bank network
Feeding Pennsylvania and its member food banks connect residents with regional food banks, pantries, meal sites, and other hunger-relief resources across the Commonwealth. PA 211 can also locate nearby food programs by ZIP code.
SNAP work rules expanded beginning November 1, 2025. Current Pennsylvania guidance says certain adults ages 18 through 64 who do not live with a dependent child under age 14 and are considered able to work may be subject to SNAP work requirements. Affected adults generally must complete and report at least 80 hours per month of qualifying work, volunteering, education, or training unless another exemption applies.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Pennsylvania housing and utility assistance is spread across PHFA, local public housing authorities, County Assistance Offices, weatherization agencies, homelessness providers, PA 211, and legal-aid organizations. Funding and waiting lists can change.
PAHousingSearch.com
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency supports a free statewide housing locator that lets renters search available affordable, accessible, and other rental housing by location and household needs.
Housing search call center: 877-428-8844, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Pennsylvania LIHEAP
LIHEAP provides cash grants toward heating bills and crisis assistance for qualifying heating emergencies. The 2025-26 season closed May 8, 2026. Pennsylvania says LIHEAP typically opens in November each year, but households should confirm the next opening date before applying.
LIHEAP Hotline: 866-857-7095
Pennsylvania Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization helps eligible households improve energy efficiency, lower utility costs, and address qualifying health and safety issues. The program is administered by DCED and delivered through local agencies in all 67 counties.
LIHEAP Emergency Services
When LIHEAP crisis eligibility is active, emergency services can address qualifying heating-system problems such as furnace repair or replacement, broken fuel lines, heating pipes, and related emergency needs. Eligibility starts through the local County Assistance Office.
Local public housing authorities
Public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs are administered by local housing authorities. Waiting-list status and application periods differ by agency, so contact the housing authority serving your community directly.
HUD public housing help: 800-955-2232
PA 211 and local homelessness services
Emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, coordinated entry, rapid re-housing, and supportive housing are locally administered. PA 211 can identify the providers and intake routes serving the caller's county.
Call: 211 or 855-567-5341
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network helps residents find the legal-aid program serving their county. Services may include eviction, housing conditions, public benefits, debt and consumer matters, family safety, employment, and other civil legal issues.
LIHEAP is currently between seasons. As of September 17, 2026, the 2025-26 LIHEAP season is closed. Pennsylvania has published 2026-27 income limits and the federal fiscal year 2027 state plan, but the next application opening date should be confirmed on the state LIHEAP page before a household relies on it.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Pennsylvania Medical Assistance, CHIP, and Marketplace coverage use different eligibility rules. COMPASS is the main application route for Medicaid and CHIP, while Pennie is Pennsylvania's official Marketplace.
Pennsylvania Medicaid
Residents can apply for Medicaid online through COMPASS, by phone, by mail, or through a County Assistance Office. Eligibility depends on income, age, disability, pregnancy, household circumstances, long-term-care needs, and other program rules.
Health coverage application help: 866-550-4355
CHIP
CHIP provides health coverage to eligible uninsured children and teens under age 19 who are not eligible for Medicaid. Applications can be submitted through COMPASS or by phone.
CHIP: 800-986-KIDS (5437)
Pennie
Pennie is Pennsylvania's official health-insurance Marketplace. Residents who do not qualify for Medicaid may be able to compare private plans and receive financial help depending on household income and current federal rules.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, substance-use treatment, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Pennsylvania Medicaid changes begin October 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027. Some noncitizen adults lose federally funded Medicaid eligibility beginning October 1, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 through 64 must meet an 80-hour monthly work or community-engagement requirement unless exempt, and some affected adults will renew Medicaid every six months instead of annually. PA DHS began outreach to affected members in 2026.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Pennsylvania's Child Care Works program is managed through regional Early Learning Resource Centers, while TANF and other cash-assistance programs are administered through County Assistance Offices and COMPASS.
Child Care Works
Child Care Works helps eligible low-income families pay part of child care costs. Applications can be submitted through COMPASS or directly to the Early Learning Resource Center serving the family's county. If funding is not available when a family applies, a child may be placed on a waiting list.
Child Care Works Helpline: 877-4-PA-KIDS (877-472-5437)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TANF provides temporary cash assistance to qualifying families with children. Work and training requirements generally apply to adults who are able to participate, and federal lifetime limits can apply. Applications are accepted through COMPASS or a County Assistance Office.
DHS Customer Service: 866-550-4355
Diversion Program
Families who meet TANF rules but expect near-term income may be considered for a one-time Diversion payment instead of ongoing TANF. The County Assistance Office evaluates whether a one-, two-, or three-month payment can cover the short-term need until income resumes.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Child Care Works does not promise immediate placement. Pennsylvania states that if subsidy funding is not available when an eligible low-income working parent applies, the child may be placed on a waiting list. The regional ELRC can provide the current status for that family's service area.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, transportation, and the rest of the household budget.
Pennsylvania unemployment compensation
Eligible workers who lose employment may qualify for temporary unemployment compensation. Claims can be filed online, and UC Connect provides in-person claim help by appointment at participating PA CareerLink locations.
UC questions: 888-313-7284, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
PA CareerLink
PA CareerLink provides free job-search tools, resume help, workshops, career planning, training information, job referrals, veterans services, disability resources, and local workforce support.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
PLAN connects eligible low-income residents with regional and statewide civil legal-aid providers. Help may include housing, public benefits, consumer debt, employment, family safety, healthcare access, and other civil legal matters.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on household income or participation in certain public benefit programs.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Pennsylvania has statewide aging and disability navigation through PA Link and a network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 67 counties. Protective services use the statewide elder-abuse reporting line.
PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources
PA Link helps older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families find local services, home and community-based supports, long-term care options, benefits, transportation, home care, and other resources.
PA Link: 800-753-8827
Area Agencies on Aging
Pennsylvania's 52 Area Agencies on Aging cover all 67 counties and connect older adults with meals, transportation, caregiver support, personal assistance, Medicare counseling, senior centers, legal help, wellness programs, and other local services.
Adult and Older Adult Protective Services
Pennsylvania protective services cover adults ages 18 through 59 with qualifying disabilities and older adults age 60 and above. Reports of suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment can be made through the statewide helpline, which is available 24 hours a day.
Statewide Elder Abuse Helpline: 800-490-8505
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Pennsylvania 988 Lifeline
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, mental health concerns, or substance use. Pennsylvania's in-state crisis centers can also connect callers with local mobile crisis and treatment resources when appropriate.
Call or text: 988
Pennsylvania domestic violence support
Pennsylvania's local domestic violence programs provide crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, court and medical accompaniment, and emergency shelter. The statewide resource page also directs people to the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
PA 211
PA 211 is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year across all 67 counties. Residents can call, text, chat, or search online for community resources.
Call: 211 or 855-567-5341
Text: ZIP code to 898-211
Pennsylvania Disaster Recovery Assistance Program
DRAP provides state grants after certain disasters when federal recovery funding is unavailable or insufficient. As of September 17, 2026, applications remain open for qualifying households affected by July 28 flooding in parts of Clearfield County, the June 11 Oak Forest apartment fire, July 11 severe storms in designated Philadelphia ZIP codes, and July 5-6 flooding in parts of Blair and Huntingdon counties.
Current deadlines: Oak Forest September 27, 2026; Blair and Huntingdon October 21, 2026; Philadelphia November 2, 2026; Clearfield November 22, 2026.
PEMA and FEMA
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency coordinates statewide recovery. FEMA Individual Assistance is available only after qualifying federal declarations and for designated areas, eligible losses, insurance situations, and current application periods.
PEMA: 717-651-2001
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, payday loans, or other unsecured debts continue affecting the household budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Pennsylvania residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
