Elimination of General Assistance

From Community Legal Services' website:

General Assistance, a last-resort safety program that provides a temporary bridge to stability for 70,000 of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, will be eliminated under the budget negotiated between Gov. Corbett and the leadership of the General Assembly. About half of GA recipients live in Philadelphia.

The $205 a month in General Assistance has enabled people with disabilities, women fleeing abusers, and people in intensive drug or alcohol treatment to pay for shelter, medical co-pays, and transportation until they can get back on their feet. Eliminating General Assistance means that most of these individuals will have no income and no way of paying for their housing costs. Many will end up homeless.

The attached flyers inform individuals receiving GA that they remain eligible for food stamps and Medical Assistance. GA recipients who are pregnant, blind, or caring for related children should remain eligible for cash assistance, as should many children in the care of non-relatives. Please help us spread the word.

Visit Community Legal Services' website for additional information about general assistance, including FAQs and tips on appealing.