Legal Aid of Southeastern PA helps people with issues related to Unemployment Compensation, SSI, SSDI, TANF (cash assistance), SNAP (food stamps), Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and other public benefits.

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA helps people with issues related to Unemployment Compensation, SSI, SSDI, TANF (cash assistance), SNAP (food stamps), Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and other public benefits.

Public Benefits

(updated May 15, 2024)

(Nov. 6, 2023) Get help with home heating through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Apply Nov. 1, 2023-April 5, 2024. See our News page for a LASP resource: 2023-24 LIHEAP home heating flyer for Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

See our News page at lasp.org/news to get information and a flyer on the changes to Medical Assistance (or MA, also known as Medicaid) and CHIP. The COVID-19 relief programs are ending1 You will need to renew every year. Update information with the PA Dept. of Human Services.

Read the article for what you can do and resources.

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA helps clients get access to public benefits that may have been denied.

News related to public benefits

  • (March 25, 2023) Changes to Medicaid, Medical Assistance and CHIP: You MUST renew every year! Update info with PA DHS! (News article + flyers in English and Spanish)

  • (Jan. 19, 2023) SNAP (food stamp) benefits are changing: You will get only 1 payment per month starting in March 2023 (News article + flyer with information and resources)

We may be able to help with:

To apply for help from Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, please call our Helpline at 877-429-5994 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) or apply online 24/7: lasp.org/apply.

 

County Assistance Office (CAO) locations and phone numbers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties

(updated July 11, 2022)

There are several ways to apply for public benefits in Pennsylvania through COMPASS.

  • In person at your County Assistance Office (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) (Note that Delaware and Montgomery counties each have County Assistance Offices in two locations.)

    • Bucks County

      • 1214 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA 19007

      • Toll-Free: 800-362-1291 | Phone: 215-781-3300 | LIHEAP 215-781-3393 or 800-616-6481 | Fax: 215-781-3438

    • Chester County

      • 100 James Buchanan Drive, Thorndale, PA 19372

      • Toll-Free: 888-814-4698 | Phone: 610-466-1000 | LIHEAP 610-466-1042 | Fax: 610-466-1130

    • Delaware County (Headquarters/Crosby District)

      • 701 Crosby St., Suite A, Chester, PA 19013

      • Phone: 610-447-5500 | LIHEAP 610-447-3099 | Fax: 610-447-5399

    • Delaware County (Darby District)

      • 845 Main St., Darby, PA 19023

      • Phone: 610-461-3800 | Fax: 610-461-3900

    • Montgomery County (Norristown District)

      • 1931 New Hope St. Norristown, PA 19401

      • Toll-Free: 877-398-5571 | Phone: 610-270-3500 | LIHEAP: 610-272-1752| Fax: 610-270-1678

    • Montgomery County (Pottstown District)

      • 24 Robinson St., Pottstown, PA 19464

      • Toll-Free: 800-641-3940 | Phone: 610-327-4280 | LIHEAP 610-272-1752 | Fax: 610-327-4350

    • Look up all Pennsylvania County Assistance Offices

COMPASS account

Moved during the pandemic? Update the County Assistance Office with your correct address and other contact information

(June 2022)

The PA Dept. of Human Services asks people to update your address and other case information with the County Assistance Office, especially if you moved during the pandemic. All renewal documents will be mailed to the address on file with the County Assistance Office. To report changes to your case file, you can:

  • Submit the change online through your My COMPASS Account.

  • Call the Statewide Customer Service Center toll free number at 877-395-8930.

DHS also invites Medicaid enrollees to sign up for text alerts to ensure timely updates on benefits.

Legal problems related to Hurricane Ida in Pennsylvania, & Disaster Case Management for other Ida-related problems

(updated May 30, 2023)

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA continues to help survivors of Hurricane Ida in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. All four counties were part of the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ida in PA. Call 877-429-5994 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., or leave a message 24/7. Our Hurricane Ida webpage also provides local, state and U.S. resources.

The federal disaster declaration in September 2021 included Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and York counties.

Bucks, Montgomery & York County survivors of Hurricane Ida

The Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is providing case management services to survivors in three participating counties impacted by Ida in September 2021: Bucks, Montgomery, and York. Survivors in these counties may call 833-4618-IDA (833-461-8432) for support and assistance.

Bedford, Chester, Delaware, Northampton & Philadelphia County survivors of Hurricane Ida

Disaster Case Management is also available for survivors of Ida who live in the other impacted counties that were part of the disaster declaration: Bedford, Chester, Delaware, Northampton and Philadelphia.

Survivors who want to request services can call 267-888-7471 and leave a message which contains a call-back number. A case manager will return the call.

Internet acccess

FCC program offers discount for internet access through the “Affordable Connectivity Program”

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service and connected devices. The program is offered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

This benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. Income guidelines are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application.

Learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, at www.fcc.gov/acp, or by calling 877-384-2575. Click for one-page PDF flyer: English | Spanish

Social Security

Get help with your Social Security application

LASP’s new SSI initiative can help people apply for Social Security.

(New! Jan. 26, 2022)

Need help with your Social Security application? Through a new LASP SSI Initiative, you may be able to get help from a trained advocate with your online application. See program flyer, or read our website News article.

Unemployment Compensation (UC)

(updated July 8, 2022)

Work requirements

As part of the work requirements, remember to register at PA CareerLink.

Pennsylvania requires you to register for a PA CareerLink account within 30 days of the initial claim. If you do not register with PA CareerLink, UC claims will be denied until the PA CareerLink account is created.

To register, visit the PA CareerLink website at pacareerlink.pa.gov and click on the "register" button in the upper right corner.

Unpaid waiting week

The PA Dept. of Labor and Industry/Office of Unemployment Compensation has an “unpaid waiting week” for NEW unemployment. The department states:

“If you file a new Unemployment Compensation (UC) claim as of Sept. 5, 2021 or later you will have to serve an unpaid waiting week. If you reopen an existing UC claim effective Sept. 5, 2021, or later, on which you have received no payments yet, you will have to serve an unpaid waiting week. …

“To get credit for your unpaid waiting week you must file for it and be otherwise eligible. To learn more about the waiting week and eligibility, refer to Eligibility FAQs.”

Where to find latest news about UC from Pennsylvania government

Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Labor and Industry handles Unemployment Compensation and other matters about employment. To check for latest news on state Unemployment Compensation programs:

Statewide legal aid resource for unemployment compensation information: UChelp.org

Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) offers a new statewide resource with updates on Unemployment Compensation (UC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the new state UC website, and work requirements. Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) is a partner with PLA on the project. Visit: UChelp.org.

Utilities

If you need help with utility terminations, reconnection, or Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) denials, please contact LASP.

Pennsylvania Utility Commission urges consumers to be alert for energy marketing scams

(July 18, 2022)

The Pennsylvania Utility Commission has provided information on how to stay alert for potential energy marketing scams, especially unsolicited telemarketing calls requesting immediate action and promising far-reaching savings on energy bills. Watch for deceptive or high-pressure energy marketing efforts and misleading claims about savings. For more information, see the PUC press release.

LIHWAP: Applications opened Jan. 4, 2022 for NEW program to help keep water turned on!

This new program, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) opened applications on Jan. 4, 2022. Visit the Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services website for more information.

(updated Jan. 4, 2022)

Are you at risk of having your water shut off?

Help is available through the *NEW* Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

Applications opened Jan. 4, 2022. The program will help families who have overdue water bills or at risk of losing water service for their home.

Learn about eligibility and how to apply at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.pa.gov/waterhelp.

Apply for LIHWAP and other assistance online at www.compass.state.pa.us. You also can apply in person at a local County Assistance Office. Click for locations by county.

More details on LIHWAP are available in a news story at lasp.org/news.

LIHEAP: Did you receive help from LIHEAP in 2021-22? If so, in August you will receive an extra $250-$500 to help with higher energy costs, going directly to your heat or utility vendor.

(updated Aug. 2, 2022)

Learn about the new supplement for 2021-22 LIHEAP recipients that will be provided in August 2022, in a website News article at lasp.org/news.

LIHEAP is administered by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services. The state website for LIHEAP is: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/pages/liheap.aspx.

Impact stories

Facing eviction, a single mom receives help with unemployment compensation denial & rental assistance application

Ms. D* is a single mother raising three children. She lost her job in early March 2020 because of COVID-19 and had no income to support herself and her family. She filed for unemployment compensation (UC) and was turned down. She had fallen behind on her rent and, despite the moratorium on evictions, her landlord was threatening to evict her. She was referred to LASP by a community organization serving the Latinx community. Spanish is Ms. D’s primary language, so she was assisted by bilingual staff members. Her attorney informed Ms. D about a county rental assistance program and helped her fill out the application remotely. He also negotiated with the client’s landlord and got the landlord to sign the necessary agreements. He ascertained that the UC application had been denied because Ms. D had filled it out incorrectly. He helped her to fill it out properly, and she was approved. Ms. D is using her unemployment compensation benefits to purchase necessities for her family, including food and a crib for her youngest child.

*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality, but the story is real.

Note: This story was published in LASP’s 2019-20 Annual Report.

Mortgage forbearance & Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs help a CPR teacher save her home

Ms. R* had a job she loved, teaching emergency response classes. She helped people learn CPR so they could save lives. Her income allowed her to support herself and her children. However, when the pandemic hit, all her classes were cancelled. As a result, she quickly fell behind in her mortgage. To protect her home for herself and her children, she contacted LASP. A LASP Regional Housing Unit attorney told Ms. R about the mortgage forbearance program and advised her on an application. The attorney also determined that Ms. R was eligible for the new Pennsylvania Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program that covered contract workers and assisted Ms. R in filling out the application. Ms. R obtained unemployment compensation benefits and was able to become current on her mortgage and avoid foreclosure. As Pennsylvania reopens, she anticipates that she will again be teaching classes.

*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality, but story is real.

Note: This story was published in LASP’s 2019-20 Annual Report.