The CAO will determine GA categorical eligibility.
GA cash is not subject to the TANF 60-month time limit. Except for individuals undergoing active treatment in a drug or alcohol abuse program or eligible for GA on the basis of domestic violence, individuals may remain eligible for GA indefinitely if they continue to meet a GA categorical requirement.
The CAO will consider GA for a family with children only if the family does not meet the eligibility requirements for TANF (C or U) See CAH 105.2 or Extended TANF Section 105.26
NOTE: All references to TANF in this section also apply to Extended TANF unless noted otherwise.
The CAO will note in the case narrative that the TANF category was considered. The CAO will also record the reason a GA case with children was not eligible for TANF. Only the Executive Director or District Supervisor will approve authorization of a GA case with dependent children.
An individual may receive GA only if he does not meet TANF eligibility requirements. An individual meeting TANF requirements but ineligible for TANF because of, but not limited to, the following reasons will also be ineligible for GA:
55 Pa. Code §141.61(a)(1)(xii)
Refusal without good cause by a minor parent to live with a parent or in an approved alternate living arrangement.
Participation in a strike, if the individual meets eligibility conditions for TANF but is ineligible solely because of participation in a strike;
Refusal to cooperate in identifying and applying for potential sources of income;
Non-cooperation with employment requirements;
Refusal to include a dependent child in the budget group.
NOTE: An applicant/recipient who refuses without good cause to cooperate in establishing paternity or support for a child is not eligible for GA for himself only.
The CAO can, however, authorize a TANF (not Extended TANF) protective payment for a child whose caretaker/relative has refused to cooperate. See Supplemental Handbook Chapter 960, Protective Payments. An individual who meets the definitive conditions but is ineligible for TANF because of income, resources or participation in a strike is not eligible for GA. A family in which an adult refuses or fails, without good cause, to cooperate in establishing and maintaining eligibility for Extended TANF as provided in CAH 135.5 is also ineligible for GA.
As a condition of eligibility for GA cash, an individual must apply for SSI if he is:
age 65 or older; or
under age 65 and physically or mentally unable to engage in substantial, gainful employment under Section 106.33.
Signing the DAP Referral Form (PA 731) meets the requirements of applying for SSI/SSDI benefits. If the individual does not wish to sign the DAP Referral Form, the CAO will advise them that they must verify that they applied for SSI/SSDI in order for assistance to be authorized or to continue. See Supplemental Handbook Chapter 820, Disability Advocacy Program.
These individuals will receive GA, if otherwise eligible, as interim assistance until the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines their eligibility for SSI benefits. These individuals remain eligible for GA if SSA finds them ineligible for SSI, as long as they meet GA requirements. See Chapter 136, Interim Assistance, for reimbursement procedures for interim assistance.
REMINDER: All individuals are required to cooperate in determining if there are potential sources of income that can be made available, such as, but not limited to, Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI), Railroad Retirement, Unemployment Compensation, and state or county retirement or disability plans.
Exception: Noncitizens who are not eligible to receive SSI. As long as these individuals have been certified disabled by MRT or have the proper documentation of a disability such as a PA 1663 or 1664 and meet all other eligibility requirements, they may receive GA. Use Program Status Code 00 and Qualification Code 24 or 04 for these individuals.
Cash Assistance applicants who do not cooperate with applying for federal benefits are ineligible for GA for a minimum of 60 days and thereafter until the individual cooperates.
55 Pa. Code § 141.21 (n) (1) (ii)
An individual who qualifies as a specified relative, eligible adult, or essential person to a child who would be eligible for TANF but who is receiving SSI, may receive TANF. The specified relative, eligible adult, or essential person may not receive GA.
Example: Mary Baker applies for assistance. Her 5 year-old son Jamie receives SSI. She is divorced from Jamie’s father. Jamie is eligible for TANF but receives SSI instead. Mary Baker must receive TANF instead of GA. She is coded ES.
An individual who is receiving SBP may not receive GA at the same time.
A full-time student at a college or university is not eligible for GA unless he received TANF cash (C or U) in the past 5 years and is otherwise eligible under a GA Cash criterion. See Chapter 114, Students.
55 Pa. Code §141.61(a)(1)(xiii)
An applicant who has voluntarily terminated employment without good cause is not eligible for GA until 30 days after the date of termination of employment. See Chapter 135 Employment and Training Program, for good cause criteria.
55 Pa. Code §141.61(a)(1)(xiv)
A GA budget group is an individual or group of individuals who occupy a common residence or would occupy a common residence if they were not homeless, and whose needs are considered together in determining eligibility for assistance. A child receiving Federal IV-E or State or local foster care assistance or adoption assistance shall not be included as a member of a GA budget group unless the child is receiving Federal, State or local adoption assistance and the child’s inclusion in the budget group would increase the benefits of the budget group. If the inclusion of the adopted child would increase the benefits, then the child must be included in the budget group. See Section 106.4 GA Budget Groups.
NOTE: Any individual receiving TANF or eligible for TANF is not eligible for GA
NOTE: A GA minor parent must comply with minor parent requirements. See Section 106.41, GA Minor Parents.
An applicant or recipient is not eligible for GA if they are one of the following:
An inmate or resident of a public mental, penal, reform or correctional institution or
An inmate or resident of any other public institutions.
See Section 192.2 for information about types of institutions. See Section 192.3 for definition of inmates, residents and patients.
An applicant or recipient may be eligible for GA if they are temporarily hospitalized in a public or private medical or psychiatric institution or a resident of any other private institution if the following is true:
The individual is free to make his or her own financial arrangements with the institution and
The individual is free to leave at any time, even though his or her physical condition may prevent it.
Reissued April 11, 2019, replacing November 2, 2018