Good news: a court has put a halt to the ABAWDs rule change. The rule will not be going into effect April 1. Please check back for more information. View the “Understanding the New SNAP Time Limit“ webinar for free! Starting April 1, 2020, over 35,000 Philadelphians – and over 90,000 Pennsylvanians — will be…
NEW: Everything you need to know about this harmful proposed rule The Social Security Administration just announced that it wants to change its rules for people who get disability benefits, including SSI. Most people would have to prove disability every two years. If Social Security moves forward with this proposal more than two million people will…
Learn how to apply for SSI and appeal if your application is denied. In 11 languages. English Should I Apply for SSI? What Should I Do If I Get Turned Down for SSI? Español (Spanish) (¿Debería solicitar el SSI? ¿Qué debo hacer si me rechazan la solicitud del SSI? 中文 (Simplified Chinese) 我是否应该申请补充社会安全金 (SSI)？如果我申请补充社会安全金 (SSI)被拒绝，该怎么办？ Tiếng…
Today we observe the passage of “welfare reform” on August 22, 1996, which “ended welfare as we know it” and created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Far from a success, this program has eviscerated needed direct financial assistance for struggling families. As we wrote in 2016, the program is helping far fewer…
This afternoon, Community Legal Services (CLS) and Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of almost 12,000 low-income Pennsylvanians who will lose their only source of income once the General Assistance program ends. The Pennsylvania residents who will lose this vital support are people with disabilities, people fleeing domestic violence, people completing treatment…
The Presidential Administration’s proposal would take food away from 755,000 people, including 90,000 Pennsylvanians.
The Pennsylvania General Assistance Program Ended August 1, 2019 Frequently Asked Questions 1. Will my cash assistance end? It depends. If you are pregnant or caring for a child who is related to you, your cash assistance should not end. You are not getting General Assistance. If you are not caring for a child, and your only income…
Good news! Most low-income community college students can get SNAP benefits (food stamps). Apply Now! Until now, most students could only get SNAP if they are working 20 hours a week, receive work study, have young children, or have health problems. Because of a new policy, now Pennsylvania’s community college students who are in programs…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a new policy to help youth transitioning out of foster care access Supplemental Security Income (SSI)! Youth transitioning out of foster care are a particularly vulnerable population. Studies have confirmed what advocates in the field know from experience – that youth who age out of foster care are more likely…
Billie Washington was struggling to make ends meet. A former home care attendant, she was no longer able to work due to her rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other illnesses. While waiting for her disability benefits hearing, she began receiving General Assistance. Ms. Washington carefully budgeted the monthly $205.00 to cover her rent, toiletries, medical co-payments, and public transportation to get to doctor’s appointments. When she found out that General Assistance was being eliminated, Ms. Washington felt like she had the rug yanked out from under her. Describing the feeling of desperation, she said, “I was crushed. I just, I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
