News from PALawHelp.org
Information on Voting Rights in Pennsylvania
View a list of resource providing information on your Voting Rights in Pennsylvania.
Department Of Human Services Highlights New State Child Care Tax Credit Available To Help Working Families
Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead highlighted the Wolf Administration’s $25 million investment in the new state child care tax credit program, which can help ease child care costs for working families.
Acting Human Services Secretary Warns Of Potential Scam, Reminds Of Safe Way To Apply For Assistance
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Meg Snead advised Pennsylvanians of a potential scam in which individuals, regardless of whether they are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), receive a text message from a “[number]@dhs.pa.gov” contact indicating that there is an issue with one’s EBT card.
State Insurance Exchange Pennie Opens for 2023 Health Care Coverage
Governor Tom Wolf reminded Pennsylvanians of the 2023 Open Enrollment Period for health insurance that begins on Tuesday, November 1, through Pennie, the commonwealth’s official online health insurance marketplace.
PUC and PA Department of Human Services Kick Off Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Season
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) joined with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to mark the start of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2022-23 winter heating season. This year’s LIHEAP season opens Nov. 1, 2022.
Consumer Alert: What Pennsylvanians Need to Know about the New Debt Collection Regulations Set to Take Effect 11/30/21
The first comprehensive federal debt collection regulations interpreting the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) take effect November 30, 2021. With the new regulations set to take effect in the coming days, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, through this Consumer Alert, is encouraging Pennsylvanians to learn their legal rights when it comes to debt collection, and to carefully examine the conduct of debt collectors to make sure they are acting in compliance with federal and state laws.
Dept. of Human Services: Issue Reported That Some EBT Cards are Deactivated
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is reporting that an issue has been reported that some EBT cards that just received a Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) deposit on 7/20 or 7/21 are showing as deactivated and are being declined when used in a store.
Extra SNAP Benefits Are Now Available for All Pennsylvania Recipients in July
SNAP “Emergency Allotments” (EAs) are available to all SNAP recipients in July. EAs are to help with food costs during the pandemic.
Womens's Law Project Launches Program to Help Pennsylvanians Facing Pregnancy & Lactation Discrimination
Women’s Law Project, a state-based public interest legal organization focused on gender justice with offices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, announces a new program to help pregnant and lactating people in Pennsylvania navigate workplace and school-based discrimination.
Biden-Harris Administration Reduces High-Speed Internet Costs for Millions of Americans
President Biden and Vice President Harris have announced that they have secured private sector commitments from internet service providers that will lower high-speed internet costs for millions of American families who are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
New Report: The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans
The Legal Services Corporation has released a new report, The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans. It reports on the findings of its 2022 Justice Gap Study which provides a fresh assessment of low-income Americans’ civil legal needs and the extent to which their legal needs are met.
The student loan pause was extended—three things to keep in mind
In April 2022, the Department of Education announced that federally-held student loan payments will continue to be paused through August 31, 2022. This extension provides welcome relief to student loan borrowers who are still finding their footing in an economy recovering from the pandemic. As we look toward repayment, this article features what the CFPB’s research, supervision, and enforcement work tells us about the risks student loan borrowers might face.
Pennsylvania is Now Accepting Applications for the Homeowner Assistance Fund
You could be eligible for help with delinquent mortgage payments or rent-to-own payments, up to $30,000, and for help for utility expenses.
Hurricane Ida Information
This resource acts as a guide to resources available to persons suffering from the effects of Hurricane Ida in Pennsylvania.
Federal Free Legal Answers Now Offers Help to Immigrants, Asylum Seekers and Veterans
The American Bar Association Free Legal Answers program, which lets qualifying users ask civil legal questions to volunteer attorneys, has expanded to offer help on immigration and veterans’ questions.
PUC Urges Consumers & Businesses to Reach Out to Utilities to Explore Assistance Options and Address Overdue Balances
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission urged consumers or businesses that may be struggling with larger winter utility bills or overdue balances to call their public utilities today to explore all available assistance options – and to take advantage of enhanced winter options before those programs may change or end.