Applications Open for Pennsylvania General Assistance

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has announced that as of Monday, August 13, they will accept applications for General Assistance. This is a tremendous win for low-income people in Pennsylania, many whom have been living with no income since 2012 when the program was eliminated. 

There are two things you can do now to help us get the word out:

1. Tell people to go apply NOW – instructions are located here: www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/cashassistance/generalassistance and www.clsphila.org/ga. Checks will be issued sometime in September and will be prorated based on when the application is complete so encourage as many people to apply as soon as possible.

Community Legal Services has posted information about who is eligible for GA and what documents individuals will need to provide when they apply.  CLS’s website also has more information about the lawsuit and links to some of the legal documents.  The web page is at www.clsphila.org/GA. There is also a one-page flyer regarding General Assistance that you can print and share with people in your organization. We suggest bringing that flyer with you to the welfare office (see below to print flyer).

2. Has your organization signed the PA Budget and Policy Center letter celebrating this Supreme Court decision, reaffirming our support for the General Assistance program, and signing up to get more information?  You can sign it here: https://goo.gl/forms/MBzI0TUARInyx5Wu2

Let’s celebrate our hard work to restore dignity to our neighbors. Because of your advocacy, people can pay rent, buy essentials, and pay for transportation.