Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
Online Applications, Benefit Screening, Resources and Forms
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
By: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Application for Social Services (COMPASS)
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - Should I Apply?
(Separate Website)
Use this online resource to find out if you are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by answering a few simple questions and providing basic income information.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
I-CAN! EIC Available to Help You Do Your Taxes for FREE and Get Your Earned Income Tax Credit
(Separate Website)
I-CAN! EIC is an online resource that will help you do your federal and Pennsylvania income taxes for FREE in English or Spanish and obtain a federal cash refund of up to $4,716 for you and your family.
By: Legal Aid Society of Orange County (California)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Benefits Check Up for Seniors (55+)
(Separate Website)
BenefitsCheckUp is a comprehensive online service to screen for federal, state and some local private and public benefits for older adults (ages 55 and over). BenefitsCheckUp also provides a detailed description of the programs, including the local addresses and phone numbers where to apply.
By: National Council on the Aging
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Cash Assistance - What You Need to Know
Informational brochure regarding cash assistance and important information you should be aware of such as time limits, work requirements, special rules, and income and resource rules.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
General Assistance
(Separate Website)
Information on the General Assistance program.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
General Assistance Benefits in PA (Audio-MP3)
(Separate Website)
6/2/2008 - Information on General Assistance benefits in Pennsylvania, who qualifies, generally combined with other benefit programs. Audio recording with written transcript.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
,
Spanish / Español
Tips on Applying for Welfare Benefits
(Separate Website)
Helpful tips about filing an application for benefits from the Department of Public Welfare.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Benefits Available from the Welfare Office for Low Income Persons
(Separate Website)
A Summary of Benefits avaialble through your County Assistance Office.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Overview of welfare and public benefits programs
(Separate Website)
Information on welfare and public benefit programs that are available to you.
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Public Benefits in PA (Audio-MP3)
(Separate Website)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA. (8/9/07) - Information on Pennsylvania Public Benefits, including General Assistance, Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) and Food stamps. (20:34)
Host - Jennifer Fisher, NWLS Attorney Guests - John Whitelaw, Attorney with Community Legal Services, & Jeannine Lawton-Knepper, NWLS Paralegal and Public Benefits Specialist.
Click on title above to listen to the program.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Agreement of Mutual Responsibility
Informational brochure on Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR), how you can make your AMR work for you, defining goals, as well as what to do if your caseworker does not agree with your AMR.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Has DPW Cut Your Welfare Check for Not Following its Work Requirements? - Don't give up!
(Separate Website)
Information on welfare terminations
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Subsidized Child Care Program - Improved Changes
Fact sheet outling the new and improved changes to DPW's Subsidized Child Care Program
By: Northwestern Legal Services
How to Get Child Care and Other Supportive Services When Your Family Gets Food Stamps, But Not Cash
Informaton on obtaining supportive services from the County Assistance Office if your household only receives Food Stamp Bensifts
By: Community Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Are you in Outpatient Treatment? Do You Need Child Care?
(Separate Website)
Information on child care eligibility for people in outpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs.
By: Community Legal Services
Special Allowances
(Separate Website)
List of special allowances available from the County Assistance Office to help you get a job or participate in education, training or work.
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Emergency Shelter Allowance
(Separate Website)
Information on the Emergency Shelter Allowance available from the Department of Public Welfare.
By: Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc.
The KEYS Program - Things to Know
Information fact sheet regarding the Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) Program in Pennsylvania.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
What Benefits Can I Get If I Am Caring for Someone Else’s Child?
(Separate Website)
Information on rights of kinship caregivers.
By: Community Legal Services
How to Appeal Welfare Notices
(Separate Website)
Information for welfare recipients on how to appeal notices received from the Department of Public Welfare
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
You Have the Right to Disagree with the Welfare Office
(Separate Website)
Information on filing appeals to decisions made by your County Assistance Office.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
You Can Appeal!
(Separate Website)
Information on filing an appeal if you thing the welfare office made mistake in changing your benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
What to Do If You Have a Welfare Overpayment
(Separate Website)
Information on how to fight a welfare or food stamp overpayment.
By: Community Legal Services
What are My Rights if the Welfare Office Tries to Sanction Me?
(Separate Website)
Information on your options when the welfare office cuts off benefits because you fail to participate in a work, education or training program.
By: Community Legal Services
General Assistance: Can it be Made Accessible to Survivors of Domestic Violence?
(Separate Website)
A guide on General Assistance (GA) eligibility for people affected by domestic violence.
By: Community Legal Services
Have You Been a Victim of Domestic Violence? You Can Claim "Good Cause" Not to File for Support
(Separate Website)
Information on domestic violence exemptions to the requirement that you file for child support when applying for public assistance.
By: Community Legal Services
You Can be Excused from Welfare Department Rules Because of Domestic Violence
(Separate Website)
Information on obtaining a waiver from welfare rules based on domestic violence.
By: Community Legal Services
Homeless People CAN Get Welfare: Here’s How!
(Separate Website)
Information for the homeless on obtaining welfare benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Immigrants' Rights to Public Benefits in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on the rights of immigrants to receive different types of public benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Impact of Criminal Record on Public Benefits in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Chart of eligibility for public benefits for people with criminal records.
By: Community Legal Services
Public Benefits Consequences of Criminal Convictions in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on the effect of a conviction on your ability to obtain and continue to receive public benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
What Benefits Can I Get With a Criminal Record?
(Separate Website)
Information on eligibility for public benefits if you have a criminal record.
By: Community Legal Services
Low-Income Telephone Assistance Programs
Information regarding telephone assistance programs that are available to low-income individuals.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
A Guide to Public Benefits An overview of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, and Low Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Limited Income? Ideas for Stretching Your Dollars
(Separate Website)
This packet provides many ideas to northwestern PA residents on how to stretch your limited dollars, focusing on 8 areas of your life: Food, Clothing, Housing, Utilities, Money, Medical, Education, and Children.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Allegheny County Department of Public Welfare Offices
(Separate Website)
A list of the Allegheny County Department of Public Welfare Offices.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Earned Income Tax Credit, Tax Year 2007 (Video)
Three-part excerpt from Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" cable access television show broadcast on Erie Cablevision (Channel 2) in Erie, PA.
Diana Smith, Senior Tax Specialist, Internal Revenue Service, provides information about Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for the tax year 2007. This tax program provides cash refunds to many low-income employed people regardless of whether any tax is owed. December 13, 2007.
Part 1 - Requirements of Filing for EITC- information on qualifying children; adjusted income limitations; and qualifying without children.(8:30)
Part 2 - Other Criteria Concerning EITC - citizenship requirements; and common errors when filing.(5:42)
Part 3 - Getting Free Help - via IRS Website; using the EITC Assistant; Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Sites and using ICAN E-file; and Avoiding Refund Anticipate Loans (RALS). (11:29)
Click on title above to watch the program.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
Domestic Violence and Welfare Support Requirements
(Separate Website)
Information about the requirement that families who receive cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or General Assistance (GA) programs apply for child or spousal support unless excused for good cause.
By: Women's Law Project
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