NOTE: Federal Bankruptcy exemptions ARE available for Pennsylvania filers.  But filers must claim either federal bankruptcy exemptions or state ones – no mixing and matching between the two systems.

Homestead

No exemption for homestead property in Pennsylvania. However, if filer has property held as a tenancy by the entirety (i.e. a form of joint ownership of property between spouses), the property may be exempt from creditors of the debts of a single spouse.

Personal Property

The following personal property may be exempt, either wholly or up to the dollar amount given:

• Bibles and schoolbooks
• Clothing
• Military uniforms and paraphernalia
• Sewing machines

Insurance

• $100 per month of cash values or proceeds of insurance policy or annuity contract payments where insured is the beneficiary
• Life insurance annuity policy cash value or proceeds if beneficiary is spouse, child or dependent
• Life insurance proceeds, if policy includes a clause prohibiting proceeds from being used to pay the creditors of the beneficiary
• Group life insurance policy or proceeds
• Accident or disability benefits
• Fraternal benefits society benefits
• No-fault car insurance proceeds

Pensions (note: tax-exempt retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, defined benefit plans, and IRAs and Roth IRAs up to $1,095,000 are exempt under federal law)

• Private retirement benefits, to the extent that they are tax-deferred, if benefits package includes a clause prohibiting proceeds from being used to pay the creditors of the beneficiary; limit of $15,000 per year made at least 1 year before filing (rollovers from other exempt funds or accounts do not count towards the limit)
• Pensions for the following occupations are exempt under PA law:
  
  • City employees
  • County employees
  • Municipal employees
  • Police officers
  • Public school employees
  • State employees

Public Benefits

• Crime victims’ compensation
• Korean war veterans’ benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Veterans’ benefits
• Workers’ compensation

Miscellaneous

• Wages:
• Earned but unpaid wages
• Prison inmate’s wages
• Wages of victims of abuse
• Property of business partnership
• Seamstress’s sewing machine
• $300 of any property, including cash, real estate, securities, or sale proceeds of any exempt property 

The Pennsylvania Code, including laws related to exemptions, is available here.

Please note: Laws may have changed since our last update. For the latest publication, please visit the state legislature sites directly, or speak with a bankruptcy attorney near you.