Pennsylvania's new state budget ends the General Assistance program on July 31, 2012. The program was originally slated to terminate on June 30 but was extended for an additional month when the fiinal budget was passed to allow recipients to be notified of the termination of the program.

General Assistance is cash welfare for single people. If you have children living with you, your cash assistance is safe. Only people without children living with them are losing their cash.

You will lose your cash assistance if:

• You are single, AND
• You do not have children living with you, AND
• You get $102.50 from welfare two times a month.

Almost everyone who is currently getting General Assistance will lose their cash assistance in July – even if they are disabled and can't work.

People in certain groups can keep their cash assistance. Be sure to let the welfare office know if:

• You are pregnant, OR
• You are living with a child who is related to you, OR
• You are blind.

If you lose your cash assistance, you can still get food stamps. If you have no income, you should get $200 a month in food stamps.

You should also keep your Medical Assistance. Be sure to get your doctor to complete the welfare office's medical form (called the Employability Assessment Form), whenever the welfare office needs it.

If the welfare office makes a mistake, appeal and get help. You can appeal by completing the form on the back of the notice you receive from the Department of Public Welfare.

If you don’t get a notice from the welfare office, you can still appeal. Simply write your appeal on a blank piece of paper and hand deliver it to the welfare office or send it by certified mail, return receipt requested to your local county assistance office.

For assistance with an appeal please contact contact your local Legal Services office.