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
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: The Family Violence Option..................................... 1 Section I: Introduction....................................... 5 Section II: Glossary of Abbreviations............................ 23 Section III: Tips for Welfare Advocates........................... 31 Section IV: Sources of Law.................................... 37 Chapter 2: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).................. 41 Section I: Eligibility........................................ 45 Section II: Time Limits...................................... 59 Section III: Applying for Benefits............................... 73 Section IV: Agreement of Mutual Responsibility................... 93 Section V: Work (RESET) Requirements....................... 105 Section VI: Postsecondary Education and Job Skills Training......... 139 Section VII: Special Allowances................................ 155 Section VIII: Child Support & Spousal Support.................... 167 Section IX: Confidentiality................................... 191 Section X: Teen Parents..................................... 201 Section XI: Sanctions....................................... 209 Section XII: Redetermination.................................. 223 Section XIII: Electronic Benefits Transfer......................... 231 Chapter 3: General Assistance.......................................... 239 Chapter 4: Emergency Housing Assistance............................... 253 Section I: Emergency Shelter Allowance....................... 257 Section II: Rental Assistance Program.......................... 265 Chapter 5: Food Programs............................................. 277 Chapter 6: Health Care Medical Assistance.............................. 297 Chapter 7: Child Care TANF, Former TANF, and Low Income Families......... 323 SECTION I: Rules Applicable to all Families Applying for or Receiving Subsidy through Child Care Works........... 327 SECTION II: Special Rules Applicable to TANF Families............. 335 SECTION III: Special Rules Applicable to General Assistance Families... 347 SECTION IV: Special Rules Applicable to Food Stamp Only Families.... 351 SECTION V: The CCIS Rules for Low-Income, Working Families and Former TANF Families......................... 355 Chapter 8: Immigrant Status and Public Benefits.......................... 367 Chapter 9: Appeals................................................... 397 1
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 1747.2 (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 141.51-141.56 55 PA Code 281.1-281.4 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
Appendix C: Chapter 3 Chapter 2, Section VII DPW Policy Clarification ESA310138 Operations Memorandum OPS 040710 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 131.6-131.83 CAH 178.4 55 Pa. Code 187.21-187.27 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 2002-53 Policy Clarifications PCT 13571131 Policy Clarifications PCT 13572131 Chapter 2, Section IX Supplemental Handbook 930 et seq. Safeguarding Information Chapter 2, Section X CAH 110.6 Young Parents and Welfare Rights Sample letter CAH 121.2 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 105.4 through 105.46 Appendix D: Chapter 4 Section I: Federal Poverty Income Guidelines Section II: HAP Instructions and Requirements for Rental Assistance 3
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 07-02-13, with list of waived counties for able-... bodied adults without dependents FSH 511.9, 511.91, 511.94 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 020602 on Limited English Proficiency Operations Memorandum 040301 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 4 2003 - PCADV