CLS can assist you with applying for cash assistance if you have been turned down, and can assist you if your benefits have been cut off.
We can also help Cash Assistance/TANF recipients facing Sanctions. Read more here.
How We Can Help
What to Bring
Please gather any paperwork you think may be relevant, including:
- Any letters or notices you have received recently from the County Assistance Office (CAO)
- Recent pay stubs if you have them
- A recent bank statement
Where To Get Help
- WALK-IN INTAKE
Community Legal Services
North Philadelphia Law Center
1410 West Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:00 am -12:00 pm
- PHONE INTAKE
Community Legal Services
215-981-3700
Thursdays 9:00am – 12:00pm
Your call will be returned within 2 business days.
About Cash Assistance
You can get cash assistance from the welfare office if you have very little income, and you live with minor children. This program is called TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
Both TANF and GA are forms of cash assistance. If you apply for cash assistance, the welfare office should tell you what you need to do to qualify, and what forms you need.
If you receive cash assistance, you must participate in a welfare-to-work program, unless you are excused. You must also pursue child support against your child’s other parent who does not live with you, unless you have a good reason not to (such as fear of violence).
The welfare office can modify its rules for you if you cannot comply with its welfare-to-work, child support cooperation, or other rules because of domestic violence.
The chart below lists the maximum grant amount for each family size. If your income is higher than this, you probably do not qualify. Once you receive TANF, the welfare office will only count half your wages, to encourage you to work.
|
|
Number of People in the Budget Group |
Each additional person | |||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
||
| Maximum grant per month |
$205 |
$316 |
$403 |
$497 |
$589 |
$670 |
$83 |
Additional Resources
Domestic violence verification form – Use this form if you need to be excused from welfare-to-work, child support cooperation, or other rules because of domestic violence. The welfare office should excuse you if following the rules would place you or your family at risk of further domestic violence; make it more difficult for you to escape domestic violence; or unfairly penalize you for having been victimized by domestic violence.
Welfare and Domestic Violence – Flier #1
Welfare and Domestic Violence – Flier #2
Caregiver form – You can be excused from welfare-to-work rules if you are needed in the house to care for someone with a serious disability, such as your child on SSI. If you cannot work for this reason, ask your child’s doctor to fill out this simple form. Give it to the welfare office. Be sure to get a receipt.
Medical Assessment Form – You can be excused from welfare-to-work rules if you are disabled and unable to work. If you cannot work for this reason, ask your doctor to fill out this form. Give it to the welfare office. Be sure to get a receipt.
