Federal, state and city programs that can help you if you've been affected by the pandemic

May 15--Need help right now? Here's a list of some government programs that can help.

Did we miss one? Email us.

Philadelphia has a program to help tenants who need rent assistance. To be eligible, you need to rent an apartment or house in Philly, have a current written lease signed by your landlord, and have lost income because of COVID-19. You also need to meet other eligibility requirements. Apply here.

Public housing

Public housing is government-owned, affordable rental houses or apartments for low-income families, people who are elderly, and people with disabilities. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Find out if you are eligible. Some of the factors: Your gross annual income, whether you qualify as elderly, if you have a disability, U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.

If you need public housing help or want to find out about other housing programs such as housing choice vouchers, reach out to your local public housing agency.

-- The list for New Jersey is here.

-- The Pennsylvania list is here.

Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) help with pay medical costs for children of families who cannot afford health insurance or don't get it through their work.

There are two ways to apply for Medicaid.

Contact your state agency:

Here is how to apply in New Jersey: njhelps.org

Here is how to apply in Pennsylvania: compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome

Apply through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

-- For New Jersey: insurekidsnow.gov/coverage/nj/index.html

-- For Pennsylvania: insurekidsnow.gov/coverage/pa/index.html

The CARES Act provides for Economic Impact Payments to American households of up to $1,200 per adult for individuals whose income was less than $99,000 (or $198,000 for joint filers) and $500 per child under 17 years old, or up to $3,400 for a family of four.

Finding status of your stimulus check

If you filed your 2018 or 2019 tax return and it has been processed, you can check Get My Payment for the status of your economic impact payment. Here is the link: irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

TANF is a federally funded, state-run benefits program, also known as welfare. Apply at your local or county social services agency:

-- The New Jersey information is here.

-- The Pennsylvania information is here.

LIHEAP helps families with energy costs.

To apply, either contact the local LIHEAP office. Here is a list of all offices by state.

-- Here is where to apply in Pennsylvania.

-- Here is where to apply in New Jersey.

In Philadelphia, there is the Utility Emergency Services Fund. UESF provides assistance to families facing utility terminations or who are shut off. There are several other programs to help residents. Here is how to contact UESF: uesfacts.org/contact-2/

Also in Philadelphia is the new Water Payment Program available for low-income Philadelphia residents. Starting July 1, the Philadelphia Water Department will offer a low-income assistance program that will offer payments based on household income, not water usage, making monthly bills more affordable and consistent. For more information, call the Water Department at 215-685-6300.

To get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP benefits, more commonly referred to as food stamps, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet some eligibility criteria (which looks at things like your income).

-- Apply here in New Jersey.

-- Apply here Pennsylvania.

The City of Philadelphia maintains this list of where you can get free food and meals.

The Small Business Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act provides small businesses with funds to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, veterans' organizations, and tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. Apply here.

Here is a list of companies in Philly who are currently hiring.

To apply for unemployment benefits: here is the unemployment link for New Jersey. https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/Find-Unemployment-Benefits.aspx?newsearch=true&location=NJ&persist=

Here is the unemployment link for Pennsylvania. https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/UnemploymentBenefits/Find-Unemployment-Benefits.aspx?newsearch=true&location=PA&persist=

PUA is available if you haven't been eligible for unemployment benefits, including if you're self-employed, an independent contractor or a gig worker.

New Jersey's WIC is a preventive public health nutrition program that provides nutrition and breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and improved access to regular health care and social services to low and moderate-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and young children with, or at risk of developing nutrition-related health problems. Find out here if you are eligible. Apply through your local WiC agency or clinic.

In Pennsylvania, WIC services are available for women who are pregnant or had a baby in the past six months or 12 months if breastfeeding; infants and children under age 5; and fathers, grandparents and foster parents, who are the legal guardian of a child under age 5, may apply for WIC on their behalf. Here is the pre-application process in Pennsylvania.

___

(c)2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.