The responsibilities of the County Assistance Office (CAO) are as follows:
Review the case circumstances to determine the need for a protective payment.
Provide all necessary services to help the recipient meet their responsibilities for supporting themselves and family if the protective payments result from failure to cooperate with employment requirements or child support regulations.
Advise the recipient of all available resources that may be used to improve money management including:
daycare;
financial counseling;
housing services; and
health resources.
Provide the payee with an adequate supply of Protective Payee's Account (PA 50-P) forms and self-addressed postage paid envelopes.
Upon request, inform the recipient of the information reported by the protective payee on the PA 50-P regarding expenditures.
Explain the rights and responsibilities of the recipient including the responsibility for reporting and the right to confidentiality for the family.
Redetermine the need for protective payment and evaluate the performance of the protective payee as often as circumstances indicate, but no less frequently than every six months.
Notify the recipient in writing when a creditor requests a protective payment for mismanagement of funds based on nonpayment of bills.
Notify the recipient of the decision to either approve or deny a protective payment following a request by a creditor. The CAO will give the recipient an Advance Notice (PA/FS 162-A) when the CAO decides to establish a protective payment based on mismanagement of funds.
Inform the recipient of their right to appeal a decision concerning a protective payment.
Notify the applicant/recipient of the decision to impose a protective payment following a non-cooperation determination. If the sanctioned individual is receiving assistance, the CAO will issue a Confirming Notice, PA/FS 162C, to implement a court order issued by a court of common pleas and to inform the applicant/recipient that the right of appeal does not include appeal of the court’s non-cooperation determination. In the absence of an order issued by a court of common pleas, the CAO will issue an Advance Notice, PA/FS 162 A, and inform the recipient of the right to appeal the decision to impose a protective payment and the calculation of the grant reduction.
Updated July 30, 2024, replacing October 12, 2018