Reimbursement is the repayment of cash benefits received by an individual, their spouse, and their unemancipated minor children living with them while awaiting receipt of personal property subject to reimbursement.
An individual who is liable for reimbursement must, as a condition of eligibility, sign a reimbursement form agreeing to repay cash benefits received for themself, their spouse, and unemancipated minor children.
55 Pa. Code § 257.24(a)(2)(i)(A)
NOTE: The individual’s liability for reimbursement differs from their liability to support their spouse and unemancipated minor children.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for identifying and referring to the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) personal property subject to reimbursement.
The OSIG’s responsibility is to compute and collect reimbursement claims except for claims involving third party liability (TPL) resources and medical assistance estate recovery.
Reimbursement is required for:
General Assistance;
Burial payments; and
special allowances unless exempt under Section 915.12, “Benefits Not Subject to Reimbursement.”
Reimbursement is not required for:
benefits granted under the Refugee Assistance Program;
State Blind Pension (SBP), including payments for nursing home care;
Medical Assistance (MA) payments;
Exception: MA is reimbursable when a third party is liable for payment of the medical services and from the probate estate of specific MA recipients.
55 Pa. Code § 178.6 62 P.S. 1412
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits;
special allowances authorized for medical needs, child care, or home heating expenses;
the portion of an AFDC or TANF grant received after 7/1/82 which represents the difference between the amount of the payment with a dependent care deduction and what the AFDC or TANF payment would be if there were no dependent care deduction;
emergency housing payments;
cash benefits equal to the hourly minimum wage times the number of hours worked in the Community Work Experience Program (CWEP; and
cash benefits received pending the receipt of a crime victim’s compensation board award.
The individual is liable for reimbursement beginning with the first assistance check received after:
the date the individual is entitled to the personal property;
the existence of a right or cause of action; or
the date the personal property was due.
See Appendix A, “Reimbursement Chart” for types of personal property subject to reimbursement.
Updated January 3, 2024, replacing March 14, 2019