The Wolf administration continues to push for Congress to extend two federal unemployment compensation programs that are set to expire at the end of the year, but on Monday, it reminded Pennsylvanians that if Congress doesn’t act, there are aid programs to tide them over.

“No matter what happens at the federal level, you don’t have to weather this alone,” Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said in a joint news conference with Acting Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier.

DHS has been anticipating a COVID-19-related surge in Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applications for many months, but it hasn’t occurred, possibly because because of those federal UC programs — Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Miller said.

But with those programs scheduled to end, the surge could be coming, Miller said.

L&I expects there will be 400,000 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance recipients and about 109,000 Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation recipients who will “abruptly lose payments” at the end of the month, Berrier said.

Thus, “half a million Pennsylvanians and (their) families” may end up struggling to pay for basic necessities like food and medical help, Berrier said.

Because PUA serves self-employed people who aren’t eligible for traditional unemployment compensation, and who may have never been unemployed before COVID-19 made them so, they may be more vulnerable than traditional UC recipients due to lack of familiarity with other support programs, Berrier said.

Miller sought to reassure those who need help from SNAP, Medicaid and other programs administered by DHS, but who may be feeling reluctant to ask for it.

Such programs can “make ends meet until you get a new job,” she said. “They can be a bridge to provide security while preparing for your next steps.”

Potential recipients can apply at www.compass.state.pa.us.

“Those who prefer to submit paper documentation can print from the website or request an application by phone at 1-800-692-7462 and mail it to their local County Assistance Office or place it in a CAO’s secure drop box, if available,” stated a joint department news release.

“You don’t need to know your own eligibility to apply,” Miller said.

County assistance offices remain closed, but their employees are processing applications, determining eligibility and issuing benefits, according to the news release.

SNAP is 100 percent federally funded, so there is no state financial impact if claim numbers suddenly increase, Miller said.

Medicaid is a shared federal-state entitlement, so there could be a financial effect, she indicated.

“The bigger issue is our ability to take applications and keep up with demand,” Miller said. “And to make sure we’re turning it around as quickly as possible.”

Still, due to the department’s ongoing expectation of a surge that hasn’t happened yet, DHS is prepared, she said.

Other DHS programs include the Children’s Health Insurance Program; the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; Child Care Works for subsidized child care; and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, according to the news release.

Pennsylvanians who don’t qualify for Medicaid can check out coverage options through Pennie, the state’s health insurance exchange. Enrollment for 2021 is open until Jan. 15. Information is available at www.pennie.com.

Additional information on food assistance is available at www.agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.

The DHS has engaged the University of Pittsburgh to study “why folks don’t take the steps to apply for assistance,” as illustrated by the department’s experience during the pandemic, Miller said.

There has been an increase — about 10% for Medicaid and about 7% for SNAP, she said. “But we just haven’t seen a spike,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.