A tough stretch is easier with a clear map. Pennsylvania has benefits programs for Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania's Medicaid), SNAP, heating help, and Child Care Works, and many start at COMPASS, the Department of Human Services portal. For SSDI, SSI, or VA disability benefits, start with Social Security or the VA.
Pennsylvania benefits programs at a glance
Program | What it helps with | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) | Monthly income when a health condition stops you from working | Social Security Administration (SSA), or with Turnout |
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) | Monthly income for people with disabilities or older adults with very limited income | SSA, or with Turnout |
VA Disability | Tax-free monthly payments for conditions connected to military service | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
Medicaid | Free or low-cost health coverage through Medical Assistance | COMPASS |
ACA Subsidies (Affordable Care Act) | Lower monthly costs for marketplace health plans | Pennie |
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy | Health insurance for older adults and some people with disabilities, plus help using it | SSA to enroll, Turnout for advocacy |
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | Money for groceries | COMPASS |
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) | Healthy food and nutrition support for families with young children | A local WIC office |
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) | Help paying heating bills | COMPASS |
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) | Cash help and job support for families with children | COMPASS |
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) | A bigger tax refund for working people | Your federal and Pennsylvania tax returns |
Child Tax Credit | Lower taxes for families with children | Your federal tax return |
Child Care Assistance (CCAP, Child Care Assistance Program) | Help paying for child care | COMPASS |
IEP (Individualized Education Program) / Education Advocacy | Special education support at school | Your child's school, or with Turnout |
Disability and income
SSDI
SSDI pays monthly benefits to people who worked and paid Social Security taxes but can't work now because of a serious medical condition. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Labor & Industry's Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) reviews your medical evidence and decides whether you meet SSA's medical rules. You apply through SSA online, by phone, or at a Social Security office. If you'd like one-on-one help, you can apply for SSDI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's disability benefits page and SSA's 2026 cost-of-living adjustment fact sheet.
SSI
SSI is a monthly payment for people with very limited income and savings who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. In Pennsylvania, BDD also reviews SSI disability claims, and the state adds its own supplement to the federal SSI payment. People who live on their own or in someone else's home get the state supplement as a separate payment. If you get SSI, you usually qualify for Medical Assistance automatically. For one-on-one help, you can apply for SSI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's Understanding SSI guide, SSI in Pennsylvania from SSA, and Pennsylvania Medical Assistance.
VA Disability
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for veterans with illnesses or injuries connected to their military service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decides claims and assigns a disability rating. In Pennsylvania, each of the state's 67 counties has a veterans affairs office with accredited service officers who help veterans file claims for free. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) also runs state programs, including a real estate tax exemption for some disabled veterans. Turnout doesn't represent veterans in VA claims, but you can learn more on Turnout's veterans benefits page.
Official resources: VA's disability compensation rates and DMVA's overview of county veterans affairs offices.
Health coverage
Medicaid
Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income, including children, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance (MA), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) runs it. Most members choose a health plan through HealthChoices, the state's managed care program. You can apply for Medical Assistance on COMPASS, by calling 1-866-550-4355, or at your county assistance office. Children with disabilities may qualify even if their parents earn too much for regular MA.
Official resources: Pennsylvania Medical Assistance from DHS and Medicaid.gov.
ACA Subsidies
ACA subsidies are tax credits that lower what you pay each month for a health plan you buy on the marketplace. In Pennsylvania, you shop and enroll through Pennie, the state's official health insurance marketplace, instead of HealthCare.gov, and Pennie is the only place to get financial help with those plans. Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15, and life changes like losing coverage can let you enroll at other times. You can enroll at Pennie, and Pennie-certified assisters can help.
Official resources: Pennie's guide to how to enroll.
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities, and you enroll through SSA. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Aging runs PA MEDI (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight), which offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through local Area Agencies on Aging. Counselors can also check whether you qualify for cost-saving programs like PACE, Extra Help, and the Medicare Savings Programs. When coverage isn't working, like a denial or a confusing bill, you can get one-on-one help from Turnout's healthcare advocacy team.
Official resources: PA MEDI Medicare counseling and Medicare.gov.
Food and nutrition
SNAP
SNAP gives households money each month to buy groceries. In Pennsylvania, DHS runs SNAP, and benefits come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) ACCESS card that works like a debit card. You don't need to know whether you qualify before you apply, because DHS reviews your application and decides. You can apply for SNAP on COMPASS, at your county assistance office, or by mail. Pennsylvania also runs SUN Bucks, a summer food benefit that most eligible children get automatically.
Official resources: Pennsylvania SNAP income limits from DHS and the federal SNAP program.
WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant people, new parents, infants, and children under five. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Health runs WIC through local agencies in all 67 counties. Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents who are a child's legal guardian can apply for that child. To start, visit Pennsylvania WIC to find an office or fill out the online pre-application, or call 1-800-WIC-WINS; a local WIC office will then contact you to set up an appointment.
Official resources: Pennsylvania WIC income guidelines and the federal WIC program from USDA.
Home and cash help
LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps households with limited income pay home heating bills. In Pennsylvania, DHS runs LIHEAP, with cash grants that lower your heating bill and crisis grants for heating emergencies, like a shutoff notice, a broken heater, or running low on fuel. Payments go straight to your utility or fuel company, and you don't have to pay them back. Renters and homeowners can apply, and you need to apply each season, which typically opens in November. You can apply for LIHEAP on COMPASS or at your county assistance office.
Official resources: Pennsylvania LIHEAP from DHS and DHS's guide to applying for LIHEAP.
TANF
TANF gives time-limited cash help to families with children, including pregnant people and relatives raising children. In Pennsylvania, DHS runs TANF, which it also calls cash assistance. You'll work with a caseworker on an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility, a plan that sets goals like job searching or training. Programs such as the Employment, Advancement, and Retention Network (EARN) help with job searches and training in every county. You can apply for TANF on COMPASS, by mail, or at your county assistance office, then track your application online.
Official resources: Pennsylvania TANF cash assistance from DHS.
Tax credits
EITC
The EITC is a federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. It can lower what you owe or increase your refund. Pennsylvania now adds its own Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, a state version of the EITC created in the 2025–26 state budget. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you're also eligible for the state credit, which you claim on your Pennsylvania return. You can check your eligibility for the federal EITC at IRS.gov.
Official resources: the IRS's 2026 tax inflation adjustments and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit page.
Child Tax Credit
The federal Child Tax Credit lowers taxes for families raising qualifying children, and part of it can come back as a refund. You claim it on your federal tax return. Pennsylvania also offers the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, a refundable state credit that matches the federal credit for child care costs. It covers costs to care for a child under 13, and you claim it on your Pennsylvania return using Schedule DC. Learn more about the Child Tax Credit at IRS.gov.
Official resources: the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit page.
Children and education
Child Care Assistance (CCAP)
Child Care Assistance helps families with limited income pay for child care. In Pennsylvania, it's called Child Care Works (CCW), and local Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) run it for DHS. Adults in the family generally need to be working or in training, and children can qualify from birth until age 13, or longer with a disability. You can choose your provider, even a relative, and you may pay a copayment based on income. You can apply for Child Care Works on COMPASS or through your local ELRC.
Official resources: DHS's Child Care Works page and DHS's guide to applying for Child Care Works.
IEP / Education Advocacy
An IEP is a written plan for a child with a disability that spells out the special education services the school will provide. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) creates this right. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education oversees special education, and the toll-free Special Education ConsultLine connects families with a specialist at 1-800-879-2301. Ask your child's school for an evaluation in writing. If you'd like someone in the meeting with you, Turnout's education advocacy team starts with a free case review.
Official resources: Pennsylvania's Special Education ConsultLine, PaTTAN special education resources, and the Office for Dispute Resolution's timelines and notices.
What this means for you
- Start with COMPASS for Medical Assistance, SNAP, LIHEAP, TANF, or child care. You can also apply at your county assistance office.
- Gather your papers before you apply: ID, proof of address, recent pay stubs, and any medical or school records.
- Apply for heating help each season. LIHEAP typically opens in November, and you need to reapply every year.
- Apply for federal programs on their own. SSDI, SSI, VA disability, Pennie plans, and tax credits don't run through COMPASS.
FAQ
Where do I apply for most Pennsylvania programs?
Most DHS programs, including Medical Assistance, SNAP, LIHEAP, TANF, and Child Care Works, start at COMPASS. You can also apply at your county assistance office. You don't need to know whether you qualify before you apply.
How can I check on my application?
You can track your LIHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF application at trackmybenefits.pa.gov. You can also contact your county assistance office with questions.
Where can veterans get free help with VA claims?
Every Pennsylvania county has a veterans affairs office with accredited service officers, and their help is free. DMVA also has accredited veterans service officers who can help you start a claim.
Turnout is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice
It's your turn
You don't have to sort through all 14 programs on your own. Turnout's free Pennsylvania benefits scan asks a few plain-language questions about your household and income, then shows which programs you may qualify for. It takes about three minutes and gives you a clear place to start today.