Pennsylvania · State Programs Checked October 2026
Disability Benefits and Help in Pennsylvania
What Disability Help Is Available in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Disability Determination (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry) decides the medical part of SSDI and SSI claims; Pennsylvania adds a state supplement to SSI for some recipients; Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) lets working people with disabilities keep Medicaid. This page lists each program with its official link, plus vocational rehabilitation, free disability rights help, ABLE accounts and parking placards.
Does Pennsylvania Add to SSI?
SSA pays Pennsylvania's federally administered supplement to people certified by the state to live in domiciliary care facilities or personal care boarding homes, and to recipients living with an essential person. SSI recipients living independently or in another's household receive a state-administered supplement instead, which SSA codes as no federally administered supplement.
| Who | Monthly supplement | Year |
|---|---|---|
| individual in a state-certified domiciliary care facility (OS code G), federally administered | $634.30 | 2026 |
| individual in a state-certified personal care boarding home (OS code H), federally administered | $639.30 | 2026 |
| individual living with an essential person (OS code C), federally administered | $43.70 | 2026 |
| couple in a domiciliary care facility (OS code G), federally administered | $1,347.40 | 2026 |
| couple in a personal care boarding home (OS code H), month of move only, federally administered | $1,357.40 | 2026 |
Source: SSA. See how SSI works and the SSI calculator.
Short-Term Disability in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no state short-term disability insurance program and no state paid medical leave program for your own health condition.
Compare every state program in state disability insurance.
Medicaid for People With Disabilities in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Medical Assistance). The state has a 1634 agreement with SSA, so SSA makes the Medicaid decision for SSI recipients: when SSA approves your SSI, Medicaid generally follows. (SSA)
Working with a disability: Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) For people at least 16 and under 65 who are employed and paid, have an SSA-standard disability, have countable income below 250% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, and have $10,000 or less in countable resources (home and one automobile not counted).
Home and Community Services in Pennsylvania
- PA Community HealthChoices Waiver (0386.R05.00): People 65 or older and people with physical disabilities ages 21 to 64 who meet a nursing facility level of care
- PA Consolidated Waiver (0147.R07.00): People with autism or intellectual disabilities of any age, and people with developmental disabilities ages 0 to 21, who meet an ICF/IID level of care
- PA Community Living Waiver (1486.R01.00): People with autism or intellectual disabilities of any age, and people with developmental disabilities ages 0 to 21, who meet an ICF/IID level of care
- PA Adult Autism Waiver (0593): Adults with autism age 21 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care
- PA OBRA Waiver (0235.R07.00): People with developmental disabilities ages 18 to 59 who meet an ICF/IID level of care
- PA Medicaid Waiver for Infants, Toddlers and Families (0324.R06.00): Children ages 0 to 2 with intellectual or developmental disabilities who meet an ICF/IID level of care
More on Medicaid for people with disabilities and getting paid as a family caregiver.
Vocational Rehabilitation in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's vocational rehabilitation agency helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep jobs:
How it works: vocational rehabilitation.
Disability Rights Help in Pennsylvania
Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) is Pennsylvania's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities.
Know your rights: the ADA, accommodations at work, IEPs and 504 plans.
ABLE Accounts in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE): Pennsylvania Treasury program; accounts moved to a new online platform managed by Vestwell (per the PA ABLE site). In 2026 you can contribute up to $20,000 a year, and the disability must have started before age 46.
Details: ABLE accounts.
Disability Parking Placards in Pennsylvania
Apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) using MV-145A: Persons with Disability Parking Placard Application (renewals can also be done online). Fee: There is no fee for the placard.. Temporary placards can be held for up to six months and may not be renewed.
How placards work everywhere: disability parking placards.
Pennsylvania Disability Help: Common Questions
Who Decides Disability Claims in Pennsylvania?
SSA takes the application and checks the non-medical rules; the Bureau of Disability Determination (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry) makes the medical decision for SSDI and SSI claims from Pennsylvania.
Does Pennsylvania Add to SSI Payments?
Yes. SSA pays Pennsylvania's federally administered supplement to people certified by the state to live in domiciliary care facilities or personal care boarding homes, and to recipients living with an essential person. SSI recipients living independently or in another's household receive a state-administered supplement instead, which SSA codes as no federally administered supplement.
Does Pennsylvania Have State Disability Insurance?
No. Pennsylvania has no state short-term disability insurance or paid medical leave program for your own health condition.
Does SSI Come With Medicaid in Pennsylvania?
The state has a 1634 agreement with SSA, so SSA makes the Medicaid decision for SSI recipients: when SSA approves your SSI, Medicaid generally follows.
How Do I Get a Disability Parking Placard in Pennsylvania?
Apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) using MV-145A: Persons with Disability Parking Placard Application (renewals can also be done online). Fee: There is no fee for the placard. Temporary placards can be held for up to six months and may not be renewed.
Disability help in other states
SSDI and SSI in Pennsylvania
Social Security disability works the same in every state: SSA takes your application, and a state agency makes the medical decision. In Pennsylvania, that agency is the Bureau of Disability Determination (Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry). In 2026, SSI pays up to $994 a month for an individual before any state supplement, and work above $1,690 a month generally rules out disability benefits.
Start with how to apply, SSDI vs SSI and the eligibility screener. To visit an office, find Social Security offices in Pennsylvania on socialsecurityofficesnearme.com, the office finder from the same publisher.