PALawHelp.org

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Legal Information

This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about issues relating to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in Pennsylvania.

• COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

  Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs offered by the PA Department of Human Services, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site Content Detail

  By:

  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Application for Social Services (COMPASS)

• Agreement of Mutual Responsibility

  Information from Northwestern Legal Services on the Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR). How you can make your AMR work for you, defining goals, and what to do if your caseworker does not agree with your AMR. Read More

  By:

  Northwestern Legal Services

• A Guide to Public Benefits

  Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. provides this guide to some programs that are funded by the government to provide help to individuals and families during times of need. Read More

  By:

  Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.

• Benefits Available from the Welfare Office for Low Income Persons

  A Summary of Benefits available through your County Assistance Office from Neighborhood Legal Services Association. Content Detail

  By:

  Neighborhood Legal Services Association

• Benefits.gov

  Benefits.gov is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive. Content Detail

  By:

  Benefits.gov, a partnership of many Federal agencies and organizations

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Cash Assistance

  Information on Cash Assistance programs administered by the PA Department of Human Services. Content Detail

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  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

• Cash Assistance - What You Need to Know

  Information from Northwestern Legal Services regarding cash assistance and important information you should be aware of such as time limits, work requirements, special rules, and income and resource rules. Read More

  By:

  Northwestern Legal Services

• Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care Program

  Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services about Child Care Works, Pennsylvania's plan for improving the quality and increasing the availability of safe, affordable child care for Pennsylvania's working families. Content Detail

  By:

  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

• Different Doors for Child Care Subsidies

  Pennsylvania’s Child Care Works program provides child care subsidies through three different programs. This is information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on child care eligibility for people under the various programs that fit different sets of circumstances. Read More

  By:

  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

• Domestic Violence and Welfare Support Requirements

  Information from the Women's Law Project and Philadelphia Bar Association about the requirement that families who receive cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or General Assistance (GA) programs apply for child or spousal support unless excused for good cause. [PDF] Content Detail

  By:

  Women's Law Project and Philadelphia Bar Association

• Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

  The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services provides information on the EBT benefit delivery system which provides public assistance recipients with electronic access to their cash and food stamp benefits. Content Detail

  By:

  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

• How to Appeal a Welfare Decision

  Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia for public benefit recipients on how to appeal decisions made by the Department of Public Welfare regarding their benefits. Read More

  By:

  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

• How to Get Child Care and Other Supportive Services When Your Family Gets Food Stamps, But Not Cash

  Families that get SNAP (food stamps), but not cash assistance ("SNAP-only" households) can get many of same special allowances for supportive services (SPALs) to attend school or job skills training that cash assistance families get. This fact sheet from the Community Justice Project contains information on obtaining supportive services from the County Assistance Office if your household only receives Food Stamp Benefits Read More

  By:

  Community Justice Project

• Immigrants' Rights to Public Benefits in Pennsylvania

  Many immigrants are eligible to receive cash assistance, SNAP, medical assistance, and other public benefits programs in Pennsylvania. The rules about which immigrants are eligible or not eligible can be complicated. This flyer from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia provides general information on immigrants’ rights to public benefits in Pennsylvania. Read More

  By:

  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

• Impact of Criminal Record on Public Benefits in Pennsylvania

  Chart from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia outlining the effect on the eligibility for public benefits for people with criminal records. Read More

  By:

  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia