Pennsylvania State Government Bill Assistance Programs

has delivered millions of gallons of discount home heating oil to poor and elderly households in Massachusetts and other cold weather states since 1979. This unique program helps protect needy families from volatile heating oil prices, which often leave households having to choose between heating the home and paying for other life essentials, such as food, health care, or clothing.

Are you having difficultly affording safe utility service? There are a number of programs that may be available to help. Depending on where you live, how many people are in your household and how much money you make, you may be eligible for assistance. Contact your utility company for additional information on the specific programs they have available.

Sometimes customers face circumstances that stretch their financial resources. Pennsylvania American Water is here to assist. Our customer service representatives will work with you on a plan to pay the balance of your bill over time. You might also be qualified to receive assistance through our H2O Help to Others Program™.

Pennsylvania State Government Assistance Programs

Here is a list of state bill assistance programs. Municipal government or non-profit organizations may also offer bill assistance options.

Developed by the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the Pennsylvania Treasury, Better Choice Loan is a smart alternative to payday lending that helps people save more hard-earned money—and even start saving for the future.
Better Choice Loan offers a longer, 90-day repayment term with lower fees and interest rates.
A Better Choice loan must be paid in full before a borrower can take out another loan. This prevents a borrower from getting caught in a never-ending cycle of rolling over a loan on its due date and paying exorbitant fees for the privilege.
Better Choice customers will be loaned an additional 10 percent that will be deposited in an interest-bearing savings account in the borrower’s name.

The Department of Public Welfare is dedicated to helping low-income families become independent while they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, benefits. TANF is also referred to as “cash assistance”.
The TANF program provides money to help: Pregnant women, Dependent children and their parents who live with them, and Dependent children and other relatives who live with them and care for them

PACE and PACENET offer comprehensive prescription coverage to older Pennsylvanians and covers most prescription medications, including insulin, syringes and insulin needles.
These programs do not cover over-the-counter medicines, medical equipment or doctor, hospital, dental or vision services. There is no application fee to enroll in the program.

CHIP covers all uninsured children and teens in Pennsylvania. It is a program to provide health insurance to all uninsured children and teens that are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance.
For most families, it’s free. For example, a family making $44,700/year would qualify for free CHIP. Families with incomes above the free CHIP limits will pay low monthly premiums and co-pays for some services.

Price Finder is a website where people of Pennsylvania can find the cheapest price of medicine in their area.
Price Finder is an easy way to find prices and shop for medications. It displays the cash paying customer prices of commonly used generic and brand name drugs. Price Finder has prices by zip code, city, drug name, drug strength, drug form, quantity, and pharmacy.

The Pennsylvania Military Family Relief Assistance Program (PA MFRAP) provides financial assistance, in the form of grants, to eligible Pennsylvania service members and their eligible family members. Eligible members must have a direct and immediate financial need as a result of military service. The amount of a grant is based on documented financial need up to a maximum of $3,500.

Healthy Horizons is a special program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare that provides medical assistance to the disabled and seniors aged 65 and over. Eligibility for Healthy Horizons can vary based on family size and income bracket.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency is the Commonwealth’s leading provider of capital for affordable homes and apartments located throughout the state. Created to help enhance the quality and supply of affordable homes and apartments for older adults, people of modest means, and people with physical challenges, the agency operates homeownership programs and rental housing development initiatives that benefit all the state’s residents. Through the housing construction and rehabilitation efforts funded by PHFA, the agency also promotes economic development across Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania has had a long history of providing services to persons who are homeless or near homeless. Governor Thornburg signed the Homeless Assistance Act in 1985. Over the next several years a variety of programs to address the needs of the homeless and near homeless have been established.
The intent of the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) is to make available a Continuum of Services to persons who are at risk of becoming homeless (near homeless) or who are homeless. Participants must demonstrate that with the prevention and intervention services provided by the HAP service components, they would be able to meet their basic needs in the immediate and near future.

CAPs can lower the monthly utility bill. CAPs may also remove the amount that already owed. The company works with the customer to determine what the customer can pay verses the cost of energy used.

LIURP helps low-income residential customers lower the amount of electricity or natural gas used each month. Typically, the company may install energy saving features at home to help reduce bills. For example, smaller bills mean your payment covers a greater portion of the bill, or perhaps covers the whole bill.

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