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.
SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (1-877-727-7529) The statewide toll-free SeniorLAW Helpline - 877 PA SR LAW (877-727-7529) - provides free legal advice, information and referrals by telephone for all Pennsylvania seniors 60 and over.
By: SeniorLAW Center (Philadelphia)
Social Security Benefits Application
(Separate Website)
Online Application for Social Security Retirement, Disability and Spouse's Benefits
By: Social Security Administration
Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool (B.E.S.T.)
(Separate Website)
The Social Security Adminisitration's Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) is an online tool that you can use to find out if you could be eligible for benefits from any of the programs Social Security administers. This tool will give you eligibility information based on answers you give on the online form.
By: Social Security Administration
Social Security Retirement Estimator
(Separate Website)
The Retirement Estimator produces estimates that are based on your actual Social Security earnings record and has been rated the Federal Government's Best Online Service.
By: Social Security Administration
Social Security Retirement Planner
(Separate Website)
Social Security provides this online tool, analysis and calculator and for those who are planning for retirement.
By: Social Security Administration
Social Security Survivors Planner
(Separate Website)
Social Security offers this on-line tool to assist families understand survivors benefits, how to qualify, how to apply, as well as a benefit calculator.
By: Social Security Administration
GovBenefits.gov
(Separate Website)
GovBenefits.gov is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
By: GovBenefits.gov, a partnership of many Federal agencies and organizations
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
Social Security and SSI: A basic comparison
PowerPoint Presentation outlining the similarities and differences between the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs.
By: Community Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
What To Do When You Miss A Deadline With Social Security [PFD]
(Separate Website)
Overview of important steps to take if you miss a deadline in a Social Security matter.
By: Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance
How to Prepare for a SSI and Social Security Disability Evaluation [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Sometimes SSA will require an evaluation by one of their doctors. This handout provides information on how to prepare for the evaluation.
By: Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance
What Happens to my SSI, SSDI, and Health Care if I Work? [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information on how returning to work will impact the income received from SSI or SSDI and how the work will impact the healthcare received from Medical Assistance or Medicare.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Guide for doctors and medical professionals on completing the Employability Assessment Form (EAF)
(Separate Website)
Inofrmation for medical professionals completing an Employability Assessment Form
By: Community Legal Services
What to Do If You Have a SSI or Social Security Overpayment [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information on what you can do when Social Security tells you they paid you too much money. This includes how to appeal, how and why to ask for a waiver of the overpayment, and what social security can do to try and recover money from you.
By: Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Representative Payees [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information on what a representative payee is, their responsibilities, when social security can require one, how to change your payee, and other similar matters.
By: Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Rules on Dedicated Funds [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information for parents of children receiving SSI regarding when a dedicated bank account must be set up for the money and the rules regarding such accounts.
By: Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance
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
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
When Can My Employer Pay Me Less Than the Minimum Wage? - A Fact Sheet for Social Security Beneficiaries
(Separate Website)
This Fact Sheet will explain the right of Social Security beneficiaries returning to work, like all employees, to be paid the minimum wage, unless your employer gets special certification to pay you less than the minimum wage. It also explains other rights that you have as an employee regardless of your rate of pay.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Working and Keeping Your Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Benefits: A Fact Sheet for Social Security Beneficiaries
(Separate Website)
This Fact Sheet will explain three ways to keep your Medical Assistance benefits if you return to work, including ways to keep coverage even if you are no longer receiving SSI.
By: Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Did Social Security Stop Your Benefits Because You Had an Arrest Warrant?
(Separate Website)
Information on a class action lawsuit (Martinez) settlement that says: (1) Social Security cannot deny or stop benefits because of most outstanding arrest warrants; (2) Social Security must stop collecting overpayments based on most outstanding warrants; (3) For 80,000 people, Social Security must pay back all benefits that they didn?t pay or that they collected as overpayments, which may total over $500 million dollars.
By: National Senior Citizens Law Center
Economic Stimulus Payments: Information for Recipients of Social Security Benefits
(Separate Website)
The economic stimulus law passed in February 2008 contains a special provision allowing Social Security recipients to count those benefits toward the qualifying income requirement of $3,000 and thereby qualify for the stimulus payment. This is information on how recipients can get their stimulus payments.
By: Internal Revenue Service
Social Security Retirement Benefits
(Separate Website)
Information for those who are thinking about retirement such as, how to qualify, how much will you receive, full and early retirement ages requirements, etc.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Request for Social Security Earnings Information
(Separate Website)
This form will request verification of employment dates. You may need this if you are having difficulty obtaining dates of employment for a pension, social security application, or personal reason. Please note: fees apply depending on the number of years you are requesting.
By: Social Security Administration
Retire Online: It's So Easy! (Video/Webinar)
(Separate Website)
Learn about Social Security's new online application for retirement benefits in this online webinar. This webinar describes the features of the application that will make it easy for you to use. It also shows you how you can use the website to help you plan for your retirement. You'll see how easy and convenient it is for you to apply for Social Security retirement benefits online.
By: Social Security Administration
Deciding When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits (Audio)
(Separate Website)
Social Security podcast where you can hear about the many factors to consider when deciding the right time for you to retire and start collecting Social Security benefits. Written Transcript also available.
By: Social Security Administration
If You're Self Employed
(Separate Website)
Fact Sheet for people who are self-employed regarding paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, earning credits, calculating net earnings, and more.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Employment Support For People with Disabilities
(Separate Website)
Social Security Administration web site designed to promote the employment of Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities.
By: Social Security Administration
Working While Disabled - How We Can Help
(Separate Website)
This booklet provides information for people who are receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits, but still want to work. It provides an overview of the various work incentive rules and answers many related questions.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
The Ticket To Work And Self-Sufficiency Program
(Separate Website)
Information regarding the Ticket To Work And Self-Sufficiecy Program and how more Americans with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the workforce and lessen their dependence on public benefits.
By: Social Security Administration
How Worker's Compensation And Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits
(Separate Website)
Information regarding how worker's compensation and other disability payments may affect your benefits.
By: Social Security Administration
Benefits For Children With Disabilities
(Separate Website)
This booklet is written primarily for the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and adults disabled since childhood. It illustrates the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits a child with a disability might be eligible for and explains how SSA evaluates disability claims for children.
By: Social Security Administration
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help
(Separate Website)
Information for those who are blind or have low vision regarding benefits you may be eligible for through Social Security.
By: Social Security Administration
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PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
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