Clarifi FAQs

All of Clarifi’s services are always 100% free. No cost. No catch. No kidding. All of Clarifi’s services are free for our clients thanks to the generous support of our donors, sponsors, and community partners.

If you’d like to support our ability to provide free financial guidance, click here to pledge.

There is no income cutoff—our services are for everybody. Anybody who is searching for free, accredited Financial Counseling, Housing Counseling, or Benefits Counseling in Philadelphia and the Greater Delaware Valley can use Clarifi’s services*! If you are looking for help navigating debt, establishing or improving your credit, growing your savings, planning for homeownership, or even just building a budget, Clarifi is here to help.

*Public benefits programs have maximum income thresholds. Our BenePhilly Counselors at Clarifi can review your financial picture and let you know if you might be eligible for any of them.

Clarifi counselors receive extensive trainings and take a series of tests to earn their certification. Your Clarifi counselor may have certifications from one or more of the following: National Foundation for Credit Counseling, NeighborWorks, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Almost every Clarifi service will require some basic information: a valid (not expired) Government-issued ID, proof of income from the last 30 days, and utility/rent/mortgage bills are all good to have on hand. You will receive a packet of information prior to your first appointment, so be sure to read that!

Yes! Our typical pre-purchase counseling session is two hours, but some special load products may require additional educational hours. We’ve partnered with Framework Homeownership to offer their online homeownership course to Clarifi clients in need of additional hours. The course is offered in both English and Spanish for a one-time cost of $75, and can be accessed here.

No, we can not. While a Clarifi counselor may offer helpful tips or resources on how to find an affordable rental or home to purchase, Clarifi’s counselors cannot assist directly in finding a home. If you are in need of emergency housing resources, visit the City of Philadelphia website.

If you are unsure of which contractors to call and how many are allowed through the program, a Clarifi team member can walk you through the program’s contractor requirements, how many you may need, and what type of contractor would be best for your repairs. Clarifi can also provide you with information on how to find contractors and what to look for when selecting a contractor.

It may be that you took on a new payment or purchased something on your credit card after meeting initial eligibility criteria. Contact us directly and one of Clarifi’s counselors can help you determine what might have affected your debt calculations and work with you to become eligible. Clarifi can help you sort out how to best manage your credit to ensure it does not jeopardize your loan.

Some of them can, but the bank will ask for additional documents to determine your lendability depending on your personal circumstances. Your Clarifi RRR counselor can provide personalized guidance on completing all necessary forms.

Your Clarifi counselor can work with you to identify other programs or grants that can leverage your loan dollars. Your counselor will also work with you to determine which projects are a priority for the health of your home as well the occupants.

Minimum Home Quality Standards means your home is safe, warm and dry (they are specific but general):

• DRY: your roof and walls are free of holes that let in rain or moisture; your plumbing is free of leaks
• WARM: your windows can open and close securely, your furnace and water heater work
• SAFE: your doors lock, floors and stairs are not trip hazards, there are no structural or electrical issues that are dangerous, your home is free of pest infestations and each floor has a smoke detector

Clarifi will send out a home assessor to go though your home and look for and document minimum housing standards set for the program. The assessor will also list and note repairs or changes that you want. You will receive a copy of this report and your Clarifi counselor will walk through it with you to ensure you understand your home needs.

Restore, Repair, Renew is available for households with incomes of 120% of the area median or lower. Please see here for the current maximum income guidelines.

• Congress passed new federal laws in 2025 requiring SNAP recipients to prove they either work 20 hours a week or meet an exemption.
• To keep your SNAP Benefits, you must show that you’re exempt from or are complying with work requirements. If you don’t report proof of work or exemption, you may only get 3 months of SNAP every 3 years. 

The new requirements DO apply to you if: you are aged 18-64 (previously 18-54), you don’t get SNAP for children under 14 (previously under 18), and you don’t receive a disability benefit.

People with children under 14, caregivers, people with disabilities, people with medical conditions (like asthma, arthritis, and depression) that make it difficult to work, and others can apply for an exemption. Visit Community Legal Services’s SNAP page for the full list of exemptions.

• Comply with any documentation requests related to work requirements. This is how you prove work hours or an exemption to keep your SNAP benefits.
• Everyone on SNAP needs to turn in their exemption checklist form. Download the form in English or Spanish and get it to your County Office via mail or in person.
• Do you have a medical issue like a disability, depression, or asthma? Work requirements may not apply to you. Download the medical exemption form in English or Spanish and get help from a medical professional like a doctor, therapist, or social worker. Then get it to your County Office via mail or in person.
• IMPORTANT: If you get mail from your County Office requesting information, respond immediately. If you drop your mail off in person at the County, request a receipt of delivery.

If you have questions about SNAP changes, call your caseworker or County Office directly.