Domestic Violence & Welfare Benefits FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTION ADVOCACY MANUAL

Transcription

1 Domestic Violence & Welfare Benefits FAMILY VIOLENCE OPTION ADVOCACY MANUAL REVISED 2008 Produced and Distributed by Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) Susan Kelly-Dreiss, Executive Director Authors Terry Fromson, Esq., & Lauren Sorrentino, Esq. Women s Law Project Amy E. Hirsch, Esq., John Whitelaw, Esq., Louise Hayes, Esq., Jonathan Blazer, Esq., Sofia Ali-Khan, Esq. Community Legal Services, Inc. Peter Zurflieh, Esq. Community Justice Project Editors Carole Alexy, Director of Contracts, & Carolyn Stevens, Wefare Specialist Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Funding provided in part by Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: The Family Violence Option Section I: Introduction Section II: Glossary of Abbreviations Section III: Tips for Welfare Advocates Section IV: Sources of Law Chapter 2: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Section I: Eligibility Section II: Time Limits Section III: Applying for Benefits Section IV: Agreement of Mutual Responsibility Section V: Work (RESET) Requirements Section VI: Postsecondary Education and Job Skills Training Section VII: Special Allowances Section VIII: Child Support & Spousal Support Section IX: Confidentiality Section X: Teen Parents Section XI: Sanctions Section XII: Redetermination Section XIII: Electronic Benefits Transfer Chapter 3: General Assistance Chapter 4: Emergency Housing Assistance Section I: Emergency Shelter Allowance Section II: Rental Assistance Program Chapter 5: Food Programs Chapter 6: Health Care Medical Assistance Chapter 7: Child Care TANF, Former TANF, and Low Income Families SECTION I: Rules Applicable to all Families Applying for or Receiving Subsidy through Child Care Works SECTION II: Special Rules Applicable to TANF Families SECTION III: Special Rules Applicable to General Assistance Families SECTION IV: Special Rules Applicable to Food Stamp Only Families SECTION V: The CCIS Rules for Low-Income, Working Families and Former TANF Families Chapter 8: Immigrant Status and Public Benefits Chapter 9: Appeals

3 Appendix A: Appendix B: Chapter 1, Section I Know Your Rights and Help Keep your Family Safe Domestic Violence Verification Form PA-1747 Overview of Welfare Programs Pennsylvania Welfare Facts Articles on the relationship between domestic violence and welfare FVO Desk Guide for Advocates (Domestic Violence Individual Notice) Chapter 108 of the Cash Assistance Handbook Chapter 1, Section III Operations Memorandum 0PS061201, Client Grievance Process Chapter 2, Section I CAH 168 Appendix C (family size allowance) Public Benefits Consequences of Criminal Convictions Criminal Background and Benefits Chart OIG Policy Chapter 2, Section II 55 PA Code PA Code Chapter 2, Section III Common Application Form SSA Information: How can I get a different Social Security number assigned to me? Except from Operations Memorandum OPS050605, Implementation of the. Diversion Program Sample letter verifying identity Chapter 2, Section IV Agreement of Mutual Responsibility Form (AMR) AMR Appeal Form Chapter 2, Section V Medical Assessment Form Caregiver Review Form Operations Memorandum OPS060802, Changes in Federal Regulations..... Related to Providing Caregiver Services Operations Memorandum OPS060703, Implementation of the Work Support Component Program Operations Memorandum OPS070305, Literacy in Work Support Component Chapter 2, Section VI KEYS Community College Contact List KEYS Changes Desk Guide 2

4 Appendix C: Chapter 3 Chapter 2, Section VII DPW Policy Clarification ESA Operations Memorandum OPS on Special Allowances for Food Stamp Only Households CAH Special Allowance Chart Food Stamp Only: How to Get Child Care and Other Supportive Services When Your Family Gets Food Stamps, But Not Cash Assistance Chapter 2, Section VIII CAH CAH Pa. Code Good Cause Notice (PA/CS 173WP) Good Cause Claim Form (173GC) Certificate of Cooperation (PA/CS 643A) Child Support Information Sheet (PA/CS 647) Important Information About Your Child Support Payments DRS Memorandum Policy Clarifications PCT Policy Clarifications PCT Chapter 2, Section IX Supplemental Handbook 930 et seq. Safeguarding Information Chapter 2, Section X CAH Young Parents and Welfare Rights Sample letter CAH Chapter 2, Section XI CAH 135.8, Employment and Training Requirements Chapter 2, Section XIII Pennsylvania Electronic Benefits Transfer Flyer Welfare Eligibility for People in Drug Treatment CAH through Appendix D: Chapter 4 Section I: Federal Poverty Income Guidelines Section II: HAP Instructions and Requirements for Rental Assistance 3

5 Appendix E: Chapter 5 Appendix F: Chapter 6 Appendix G: Chapter 7 Appendix H: Chapter 8 Appendix I: Chapter 9 Food Stamp computation sheet Operations Memorandum , with list of waived counties for able-... bodied adults without dependents FSH 511.9, , How to Get Child Care and Other Supportive Services When Your Family Gets. Food Stamps, But Not Cash Assistance Food Stamps Now! Employability Assessment Form Chart with Benefit Amounts and Income Limits CHIP Health Sustaining Medications Form How to Get Child Care and Other Supportive Services When Your Family Gets Food Stamps, but Not Cash Assistance Select Immigrant/Refugee Service Providers Sample Stamped Foreign Passport Sample Arrival/Departure Card (I-94) Sample Resident Alien Card ( Green Card ) (I-551) Sample Student Visa Sample Employment Authorization Card (I-688B) Alien Status Chart including PRUCOL Categories Sample Physician Letter Emergency Medical Condition Verification form NILC Guidance on Public Charge Immigrants Rights to Public Benefits in Pennsylvania Most Legal Immigrants Can Get Food Stamps! Operations Memorandum on Limited English Proficiency Operations Memorandum on Emergency Medical Assistance How to Appeal Welfare Notices Sample Appeal form Sample Letter Appendix J: Appendix K: Statewide Legal Services Programs Domestic Violence Services Subcontractors PCADV