Pennsylvania Welfare Insurance: Making Changes

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services (DHS) offers a range of welfare programs to assist low-income and unemployed individuals and families. These programs are administered through County Assistance Offices (CAOs), and individuals can apply for benefits at any CAO. The state will then assign a specific CAO to each case based on the applicant's place of residence. Pennsylvania offers various welfare insurance programs, including cash assistance, SNAP/food stamps, and medical assistance.

Pennsylvania Medicaid Program

The Pennsylvania Medicaid Program, also known as the Medical Assistance Program, provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible vulnerable persons and people with limited incomes. To be eligible for Pennsylvania Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien with low income or very low income. You must also be responsible for a child aged 17 or younger or have a disability or live with someone with a disability.

To apply for Pennsylvania Medicaid, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:

• For one person: $18,984
• For two people: $25,520
• For three people: $32,056
• For four people: $38,592
• For five people: $45,128
• For six people: $51,664
• For seven people: $58,200
• For eight people: $64,736
• For households with more than eight people, add $7,155 per additional person.

You can apply for Pennsylvania Medicaid online, by phone, or by mail, fax, or in person. To apply online, visit the COMPASS online application portal. You can also download an application form directly from the Health Care/Medical Assistance page. To apply by phone, call the Consumer Service Center for Health Care Coverage at 1-866-550-4355. To apply in person or via mail or fax, download an application and submit it to your local County Assistance Office (CAO) by mail or fax, or drop it off in person.

In addition to providing health care coverage, Medicaid is the only program that covers Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) at home or in a nursing facility or group home. The application process for Medicaid LTSS differs from applying for health care coverage.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF provides temporary cash assistance for pregnant women and families with one or more dependent children. This cash assistance can be used to purchase any items your family needs. TANF participants also receive Medical Assistance and are usually enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As a TANF participant, you are also eligible for supportive services to help you meet the work participation requirement, such as childcare assistance and transportation.

To be eligible for TANF cash assistance in Pennsylvania, your income must be below the cash grant size: $205 a month for a single person, $316 a month for two people, and $403 a month for a family of three. Pennsylvania also has a limit on savings of $250 for an individual or $1,000 for more than one person.

You can apply for or renew your TANF cash assistance benefits online using COMPASS, an online resource for cash assistance, SNAP, child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance, school meals, SelectPlan for Women, and long-term living services. You can also file an application at your local County Assistance Office or download an application form from the web and return it to your local County Assistance Office.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the official name of the federal Food Stamp program. The Department of Human Services (DHS) administers the program through assistance offices in each county (CAOs). Most low-income families are eligible for SNAP benefits, which are credits that come on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. SNAP recipients can use their benefits like cash to buy food at most grocery stores.

To be eligible for SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania, you must be a resident of the state and meet certain bank balance limits. A household with an elderly (over 60) or disabled household member may have a higher bank balance limit. To qualify, you must also have an annual household income (before taxes) that is below the following amounts:

• For a household of 1: $23,606
• For a household of 2: $31,894
• For a household of 3: $40,182
• For a household of 4: $48,470
• For a household of 5: $56,758
• For a household of 6: $65,046
• For a household of 7: $73,334
• For a household of 8: $81,622
• For households with more than eight people, add $6,994 per additional person.

You can apply for SNAP benefits online, over the phone, in person, or by mail. To apply online, visit the COMPASS online application portal. You can also call the DHS Helpline toll-free at 1-800-692-7462 (or 1-800-451-5886 for individuals with hearing impairments) or your county assistance office.

Medical Assistance (MA)

Who is eligible for MA?

To be eligible for Pennsylvania Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, and be characterised as low income or very low income. You must also be responsible for a child aged 17 or younger, or have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability.

How to apply for MA

You can apply for MA at your local County Assistance Office or online at www.compass.state.pa.us. MA coverage will pay your medical bills going back to three calendar months before you applied. If you do not qualify for Medical Assistance, you could still get help in paying for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. If you are denied medical assistance, your information should be sent to the Pennsylvania Insurance Exchange (Pennie) to help you find and enrol in low-cost coverage.

MA benefits

Anyone who receives TANF, GA, or SSI generally receives full MA benefits, which pay for doctors, hospital visits, prescriptions and most other medical expenses.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a health insurance program for children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medical Assistance. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) through the state's County Assistance Offices (CAOs).

CHIP provides free, subsidized, or full-price health insurance coverage for children, depending on a family's income and the age of the children. There is no income or savings limit for CHIP, and DHS will automatically forward applications for Medical Assistance for children from families with income above the limits to CHIP.

To apply for CHIP, you can visit the CHIP website at www.chipcoverspakids.com, where you can also find answers to frequently asked questions. You can also call the CHIP insurance company that provides your family members with insurance coverage. Their toll-free number can be found on the back of your insurance card.

To find out if you are eligible for CHIP or other medical assistance programs, you can contact the Pennsylvania Health Access Network or the Pennsylvania Health Law Project.

Frequently asked questions