This information was last updated on Thursday, May 7.
PA Supreme Court: No Evictions through July 10, 2020.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered that there can be no eviction filings, no eviction hearings and no lockouts in Pennsylvania through July 10, 2020.
To view the Supreme Court Order, click here.
To view the First Judicial District Order extending the Supreme Court’s Order, click here.
Philadelphia courts are closed through May 29. For additional information about Philadelphia Court closures, click here.
All evictions are illegal evictions at this time.
If your landlord changes your locks, bars your door, cuts off your utilities, removes your possessions, or otherwise forces you out of your home, that is an illegal eviction. If you are evicted illegally, follow the steps on this COVID-19 Illegal Eviction flyer.
Federal CARES Act stops some evictions until July 25, 2020
The CARES Act Eviction Moratorium stops some landlords from charging late fees, sending eviction notices or filing eviction cases for non-payment of rent until July 25, 2020. To find out what properties are covered by this Eviction Moratorium, review this flyer.
Legal Aid is open and taking your calls.
If you have any tenant-related questions, please call the Philly Tenant Hotline at 267-443-2500, press option 6, and leave a message. Someone will return your call within 24 hours.
The Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission is accepting complaints.
The Fair Housing Commission (FHC) is not holding hearings at this time. However, tenants who are victims of unfair rental practices may file a complaint using the form available on the FHC website. Send the completed form to the FHC at Fairhousingcomm@phila.gov. Or you can call the FHC main telephone line at 215-686-4670.
The Philadelphia Housing Authority has limited services at this time.
Meals and food are available during the epidemic.
Electric, Gas and Water Shut-offs are Suspended.
There will be NO electric, gas, or landline home phone shut-offs in Philadelphia while the state of PA remains under a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency. These utilities will remain ON unless the Public Utility Commission lifts the shut off restriction.
There will be NO water shut-offs in Philadelphia through at June 1.
The Philadelphia Water Department will restore water service to all delinquent customers whose water has previously been terminated. The restoration fee will be waived. Customers that have been shut off for not repairing defects in their private plumbing will still need to make the necessary repairs to have their water restored.
PECO will restore electric service to any customers who have been disconnected. Customers should call 1-800-494-4000 to begin the reconnection process. More information about restoring electrical service is available here.
PECO and PGW are waiving new late payment charges through at least May 1, 2020.
PGW has closed all five of its PGW Customer Service Centers until further notice.
Funds are available for those who have lost income.
Economic Impact Payments
The federal government is planning to send Economic Impact Payments to all Americans who filed tax returns in 2018 or 2019. Those with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples will receive full payment. Visit this IRS page for more information about the status of economic impact payments.
While the IRS is making stimulus payments available automatically to some Social Security recipients, people who receive SSI will have to file taxes to get the financial relief they need. The tax filing requirement is unnecessary, confusing, and burdensome. It means that many people with disabilities will not get the financial help they need, and it puts some people at risk of tax scams. Advocates are asking the IRS take action so that SSI recipients get stimulus payments automatically, and so that other low income people can file taxes quickly, easily, and remotely.
Public Benefits
Anyone who has lost their job or lost hours at work because of the pandemic may qualify for public benefits. For information about medical assistance, cash assistance, utility assistance and food stamps (SNAP), click here.
Unemployment Compensation
Many households are now eligible for Unemployment Compensation and can apply at www.uc.pa.gov. Applicants must provide a “reason for separation”. Here is a chart with some common options that may help you decide which reason applies to you. Also, here is a video showing how to apply online.
Financial Counseling is available.
Clarifi is still offering financial counseling during the pandemic. Financial counselors at Clarifi have begun tailoring their services to specifically assist with financial impacts resulting from this pandemic. Their services include:
- Develop a crisis spending plan to prioritize spending due to job loss or a loss of income
- Apply for relief through lenders such as student loans, banks, credit card companies
- Find resources that may help further
- Create a plan for recovery
Please call 1-855-346-7445 or email clarifiteam@clarifi.org to speak with a counselor. More information about financial counseling is included on this flyer.
You Can Still File for Bankruptcy.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court is open, with some changes. You can still file for bankruptcy, and if you file, the automatic protection from your creditors will still apply, if needed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Bankruptcy Court is only holding hearings by telephone.
If you are in an active bankruptcy case, you should immediately contact your bankruptcy attorney.
If you are in an active bankruptcy case, and do not have an attorney, you should call the Bankruptcy Court for information on how to participate in the hearing by phone. The Bankruptcy Court’s website has posted the phone conference numbers for each judge along with instructions.
All meetings of creditors with Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 trustees, sometimes called 341 meetings, that are scheduled from now until April 10 will be postponed or held via video conferencing. You should call the trustee or your bankruptcy attorney to find out whether your meeting will be postponed or held via video conferencing. The phone number for the trustee can be found on the “Notice of Bankruptcy” you received after filing your case or in other correspondence you may have received from the trustee.
Free Internet Service is Available for Low-Income Households.
Free Tax Preparation is still available.
Free, virtual tax preparation is available for low-income families through the Campaign for Working Families. Start by visiting GetYourRefund.org. Once there, verify your identity, answer some required questions, and upload your tax documents. For issues, email virtualvita@cwfphilly.org or visit cwfphilly.org.
