Get Help During COVID-19

For Individuals

If you are in need of assistance, contact 211 for referral to the best local resources to fill your need. There are three ways to connect: 

• Dial 2-1-1 (due to high call volumes please anticipate a wait time)

• Text your zip code to 898-211

• Search the online database at www.uwp.org/211gethelp

For Nonprofits

Nonprofits serving Franklin County residents impacted by the pandemic may:

• Submit your volunteer and donation needs to be added to our volunteer page.

• Request an application for support from our Crisis Fund by emailing office@uwfcpa.org. 

• Visit our Nonprofit COVID-19 page for more resources.

COVID-19 Information & Resources

Contents (click title to jump to category information)

Key Information 

COVID-19 Information

Communications from the Governor

Children and Families

General Resources

Child Care

Education

Learning at Home

Employment

Job Postings

Unemployment Benefits

Financial Assistance

Food

Fraud Protection

Scams

Report Fraud

Health Care

General Resources

Prescriptions

Health Insurance

Housing

Renters

Homeowners

Mental Health

Taxes

Utilities

Voting

How You Can Help

Key Information

If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing, or have been in contact with a person known to have Coronavirus (COVID-19), stay home and call your healthcare provider. Your doctor will determine if you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and whether you should be tested or need care. Also check out this document: COVID Positive or Waiting for Test Results? What Now?

​

COVID-19 Information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker

• PA Department of Health

• Call 1-877-PA-HEALTH to report a Public Health Emergency or AN IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIABLE CONDITION such as COVID-19

• Commonwealth of PA resources for individuals, families, and businesses

• US Government response to COVID-19

• Text PACOVID to 898-211 to stay informed with updates on breaking news, relief legislation, and resources to help you meet your basic needs during the crisis

​

Communication from the Governor

• As of May 29, 18 counties have reopened in the green phase and 39 counties in the yellow phase, while stay-at-home orders continue for 10 counties

  • By June 5, all remaining red counties are expected to move to yellow, and 16 more yellow counties will be expected to move to green

  • See the three-phase reopening plan, with guidance for each phase

• ​Guidance on yellow and green phase dining and professional sports is provided

• Non-essential businesses in red counties are to remain closed until further notice

  • Orders have been released regarding how life-sustaining businesses must operate safely and the enforcement of these orders

  • Businesses that do not abide by the law to remain closed will have consequences imposed upon them

• Limited recreational activities reopened on May 1

• The governor recommends that all Pennsylvanians wear a mask any time they leave their homes for life-sustaining reasons

  • CDC instructions for cloth masks

> back to top​

Housing

Search PA 211’s housing resources (choose a category and change search filters to refine by zip code)

Renters

• ​If you are unable to make your rent payment, contact your landlord immediately and try to work out an agreement

• Renters cannot be evicted due to lack of payment or overstaying a lease until July 10, 2020

• Rental assistance is available through HUD

• Renters in apartment complexes whose owners have federally-backed loans (Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, or HUD) cannot be evicted until July 25

  • Renters will not be charged any fees related to nonpayment of rent during this time

  • The earliest that evicted renters will be required to vacate the property is Aug. 24

Homeowners

• Homeowners cannot be foreclosed upon due to lack of payment until July 10

• Homeowners impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for a mortgage forbearance for up to 12 months (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac)

• Single-family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages cannot be foreclosed upon until June 30

• CFPB guidelines for COVID-19 mortgage relief options

> back to top​​

Utilities

• The LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program helps eligible Pennsylvanians who are at risk of losing access to various energy services in their homes

• Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission prohibited electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, telecommunication and steam utility terminations during the Governor’s Proclamation of Disaster in PA 

• If you are having trouble paying your utility bills, PUC suggests reaching out to your provider before the bill becomes past-due, because there are programs in place to help

Electric

• Search PA 211’s electric service payment assistance resources (change search filters to refine by zip code)

Water

• Search PA 211’s water service payment assistance resources (change search filters to refine by zip code)

Telephone Service

• Search PA 211’s telephone service payment assistance resources (change search filters to refine by zip code)

Internet Service

• Search PA 211’s internet service payment assistance resources (change search filters to refine by zip code)

> back to top​​

Food

• Food Resources for:

  • Chambersburg

  • Greencastle​

  • Shippensburg

  • Waynesboro

• Food Access Program for Students - The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) plan will allow DHS to provide SNAP funds to households with children who qualified for free or reduced-price meals at school.​

• PA Department of Agriculture guidelines for accessing emergency food assistance

• County Assistance Offices will continue to process applications for benefits such as SNAP and maintain existing cases

• Temporary SNAP benefits are available, and work requirements have been suspended

• Contact local businesses to see if they are putting special hours in place to accommodate seniors and other vulnerable populations

> back to top​​

Financial Assistance

• The PA DHS has an Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) to help eligible families who lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a one-time payment to assist them in meeting basic needs

  • Applications will be accepted from May 11 through June 12 or until all funds are expended, so please apply quickly

• Federal stimulus payments to individuals:

  • Most individuals earning less than $75,000 can expect a one-time cash payment of $1,200

  • Married couples earning less than $150,000 combined can expect $2,400, and families would get an additional $500 per child

  • The payments are based on either your 2018 or 2019 tax filings

  • People like low-income taxpayers, seniors, some veterans, and individuals with disabilities who do not typically file taxes, will need to file a simple tax return to receive their payment (no tax will be owed)

    • Social Security recipients who do not typically file taxes will not need to file to receive their payment – payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts​

• People affected by the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation: the waiting week and work search requirements are temporarily suspended

• Individuals experiencing financial hardship should reach out to creditors, utility companies, and landlords to understand what assistance they may be offering or willing to negotiate

• Federal student loans: until Sep. 30, interest will not accumulate, payments are suspended, and garnishment of wages, Social Security benefits, and tax refunds for student loan debt collection is halted

• Low-interest disaster relief loans for small businesses are being offered by The Small Business Administration

• Under the CARES Act, individuals impacted by coronavirus can access up to $100,000 from their 401(k)s and IRAs with fewer consequences than usual (if you have exhausted most other resources available to you)

• Veterans can apply for temporary financial assistance for necessities

• Veterans and eligible family members can apply for financial assistance for immediate need

> back to top​​

Employment

Most employees will be guaranteed two weeks of paid sick leave and a subsequent ten weeks of partially paid family leave for care of a child, under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Job Postings

• The National Labor Exchange lists essential job postings for PA with immediate hiring during the COVID-19 crisis

• PA CareerLink offers active job openings for life-sustaining businesses, available for immediate hire

• USAJOBS has federal government job listings for positions that help respond to and fight COVID-19 in PA

Unemployment Benefits

• People affected by the COVID-19 crisis may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation: the waiting week and work search requirements are temporarily suspended​​

  • ​Employees who are asked to return to work in counties where the Governor’s red phase, stay-at-home order remains in place can continue to collect unemployment if they feel unsafe returning to work

• The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program is available for individuals whose regular unemployment benefits have expired or will expire soon

• If you’re not eligible for normal UC benefits, you may qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

  • PUA FAQs

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provides an additional $600 per week beyond UC or PUA benefits, and extends benefits for an additional 13 weeks

  • What you need to know and do and FAQs regarding CARES Act unemployment benefits

> back to top​​

Children and Families

General Resources

• Children, Youth, and Families resources

• Food Access Program for Students - The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) plan will allow DHS to provide SNAP funds to households with children who qualified for free or reduced-price meals at school.​

• Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-932-0313

• Safe2Say Something: 1-844-723-2729 or get the app (kids can use this service to make anonymous tips on anything that makes them uncomfortable)

• Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

Child Care

• FAQs from DHS for families in need of child care

• Some child care providers are approved to operate during the COVID-19 public health emergency

• Certified child care centers and group child care homes operated outside of a residence are closed: this includes PA Pre-K Counts, HSSAP, Preschool Early Intervention, Private Academic Nursery Schools and locally-funded prekindergarten activities

Education

• All schools statewide remain closed for the remainder of the academic year​

• The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced the cancellation of all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year

Learning at Home

• Scholastic Learn At Home Projects for Children for pre-K – 12

• Khan Academy for students age 4 – 18

• CommonLit for grades 3 – 12

• Illustrative Mathematics for K – 12

• Zearn Math for K – 5

• Sesame Street for pre-K

> back to top​​

Mental Health

• Mental Health Tips and Resources from Healthy Franklin County

• myStrength - Personal Support for You

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

• Mental Health Support Line: 1-855-284-2494

• Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TALKWITHUS to 66746

• Crisis Text Line: text MHA to 741741

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522

• PA Suicide and Crisis Hotlines

• Substance Use Disorder Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), text 717-216-0905, or chat

• Search PA 211’s mental health resources (change search filters to refine by zip code)

> back to top​​

Health Care

• Local Healthcare providers COVID-19 information:

  • Wellspan Health (including Chambersburg and Waynesboro Hospitals)​

  • Keystone Health

• Free health clinics in PA

• COVID-19 testing is free for all Americans, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay

Prescriptions

• CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacies are doing free prescription delivery: please contact your local pharmacy for more information

• Download a free prescription discount card from United Way partner, FamilyWize 

  • Or use these Familywize codes at your pharmacy -  BIN: 610194, Card ID: FW100, Group ID:  FW100, PCN: FW

  • Or, text SAVE to 700700 to download the card to your phone

Health Insurance

• If you do not have employer-sponsored health insurance, know your health insurance options

• The state will continue to process applications for Medicaid – COVID-19 health emergencies are being prioritized

• Medicare will now cover telehealth services for its beneficiaries

> back to top​​

Taxes

• Taxpayers have until July 15th to file and pay their federal and state income tax returns without penalty

  • Additional relief is available for state taxes​

• Simple federal and state tax returns can be completed for free at myfreetaxes.com

• The deadline for older adults and people with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2019 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2020

• PA 529 account funds that have been refunded can be returned to the account within 60 days to avoid penalties or taxes

> back to top​​

Voting

• The PA primary election has been rescheduled to June 2, and there is an option to vote by mail-in ballot

  • Register to vote by May 18

  • Request a mail-in ballot by May 26

> back to top​​

Fraud Protection

Scams

• Regarding individual benefits checks from the federal government:

  • The government will never ask you to pay anything up front to get this money

  • The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number

  • Anyone who tells you they can get you the money now is a scammer

• Scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information – these services are unapproved and illegitimate:

  • Beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare or Medicaid numbers

  • Be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies

  • Ignore offers or advertisements for COVID-19 testing or treatments on social media sites

• Beware of fake unemployment filing websites designed to steal your personal information: only file for unemployment through the Department of Labor and Industry at www.uc.pa.gov​

Report Fraud

• If you suspect fraud related to the COVID-19 crisis, please report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or email disaster@leo.gov

• To report suspected price gouging to the Pennsylvania Attorney General: pricegouging@attorneygeneral.gov

> back to top​​​​

How You Can Help

• Our communities are in need of volunteers and donations now more than ever. Check out our volunteer page for current local needs

• If you’re in a position to give, please consider supporting United Way of Franklin County's COVID-19 response fund

• Individuals or organizations can donate critical medical supplies to PA hospitals

• Blood donation during a pandemic is crucial – schedule your blood donation with The Red Cross

• Share your COVID-19 story: help us show lawmakers how much working folks are struggling, so we can advocate for relief legislation that works for all Pennsylvanians

> back to top​​