What benefits can servers get in Pennsylvania?

PennsylvaniaVerified September 23, 2026

The short answer

A new state tax credit, plus Medicaid and Pennie. Starting with 2025 returns, the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit pays 10% of your federal EITC, up to $805, even if you owe no state income tax. Adults 19 to 64 with income at or below 133% of the poverty guidelines can get Medicaid. Pennie is the state marketplace. Pennsylvania has no statewide paid sick leave law.

The rule in Pennsylvania

Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit10% of your federal EITC, up to $805, refundable. You need Pennsylvania earned income, a federal EITC, and both a federal Form 1040 and a PA-40 return.
MedicaidAdults 19 to 64 with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty guidelines.
PenniePennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace and the only place to get financial help lowering premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage typically runs November 1 to December 15.
Sick daysNo state law requires paid time off; it’s owed only under an employer policy or contract. Philadelphia has its own rules, which the city enforces.
“The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC) is a new state-level tax credit modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).” (Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit)

What’s different in Pennsylvania

The Department of Revenue calls this a new state-level credit, and expects it to reach nearly 1 million people filing 2025 returns. Because it’s refundable, a server who owes little or nothing on the PA-40 can still get it back, but only by filing the state return alongside the federal one.

Leave works differently here. The Department of Labor & Industry says no state law makes an employer pay you for time you don’t work, so sick pay depends on your restaurant’s policy, unless you work in Philadelphia. The state Insurance Department notes that enhanced federal premium credits weren’t renewed for 2026. Plus the federal programs.

Official sources

Last verified

. Checked the agency pages linked above.

Still open: The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit page gives a $805 maximum without naming a tax year beyond the first filing season (2025 returns).

Related

TipMax Answers explains public government guidance on pay and workplace rules in plain English for tipped workers. It is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Rules change and local rules can add to them. Confirm with the agency linked on this page or a qualified professional. TipMax the app helps you track tips and pay; it doesn’t enforce wage law or decide disputes.