Community & Government Announcements

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania offers free online workshops on unemployment compensation and clean slate & expungement in May.  See this flyer for more info: Legal Aid-May Virtual Workshops-

IRS has now set a deadline for SSI/VA non-filers with dependents to complete the IRS web portal to get dependent children EIP benefits.  The deadline for SSI recipients to fill out the tax form for their children is TUESDAY, MAY 5. They do this at the IRS Portal.  Adults who receive VA benefits, SSI, or SSDI will get a $1,200 stimulus payment automatically, but need to file separately for children under age 17. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait until 2021 to get the payment for your children. The deadline for SSDI recipients to get child payments in 2020 was Wednesday, April 22.  Advocates are trying to get the deadline extended, and there is no downside to filling out the tax form just in case. Adults who receive VA benefits, SSI, or SSDI and who do NOT have dependent children under age 17 do not have to fill out the form unless they started receiving benefits after January 1, 2020.  People will get automatic payments in the same way that they get their benefits payments (usually direct deposit or Direct Express).

The APPRISE Program is Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).  This federally funded program is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help Pennsylvanians age 60 and over and those with disabilities with Medicare insurance concerns.  APPRISE counselors are specially trained and certified and can answer your questions about Medicare and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare options.  APPRISE services are free, unbiased and all information is kept completely confidential.  The APPRISE Program is conducted under the auspices of the Chester County Department of Aging — https://chesco.org/477/Apprise-Medicare-Counseling

While individual counseling normally occurs at specific counseling locations, during the Stay-at-Home directive, counseling is only available by phone through the APPRISE Helpline 610-344-5004 option 2.  If you have general questions or need answers to your specific Medicare situation, please leave a message and a counselor will return your call.  If you will be new to Medicare, or enrolling in Medicare later in 2020, please check back to see if the counseling locations have reopened, or for further Medicare guidance.
 

The Phoenixville Jaycees have created a website to help Phoenixville area residents find information and resources during the pandemic — https://www.inthistogetherpxv.com/.

Locate a COVID-19 community-test center here:

https://get-tested-covid19.org/

The Chester County Department of Mental Health wants to increase awareness of how to access help and support during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Their website, with a link to a resource guide with COVID-19 information, can be accessed here — https://www.chesco.org/615/Mental-HealthIntellectual-Dev-Disabiliti

Open Hearth provides the following information on eligibility for their GAP (Goal Achievement Program) for homelessness prevention.

GAP Overview-Open Hearth

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania provides the following information regarding application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which is how self-employed and gig workers and independent contractors can apply for unemployment compensation.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Here is the link to apply—

https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/pages/filing-for-pua.aspx

Please see the following announcement from the Pennsylvania WIC (Women-Infants-Children) Program regarding their operations during the coronavirus pandemic:

The Chester County Commissioners and leaders from the Chester County Department of Human Services will host a telephone community briefing on Monday, April 20 at 2:30 PM.  The briefing will offer guidance for individuals who are experiencing mental health and wellness challenges, for those who are concerned about loved ones of all ages who are experiencing emotional challenges; and for those who are seeking support to meet basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Click here to register.

The Internal Revenue Service has released an online tool for checking the status of your Economic Impact, or stimulus, payment.  Available at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments, the tool will also let you confirm payment type (direct deposit or check) and enter bank account information for direct deposit if the Internal Revenue Service doesn’t have the information on file.