PRINTER'S NO. 1776
No. 1523 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, KLINGAMAN, PETERSON, BARBER, RICHARDSON,
WIGGINS, GLADECK, GANNON, E. Z. TAYLOR, PHILLIPS, MRKONIC,
KENNEDY, LASHINGER, FREIND, ARTY, GREENWOOD, HAGARTY, RASCO,
FLECK, BURD, DAWIDA, HOEFFEL, HARPER, WACHOB, OLIVER AND
McCLATCHY, JUNE 8, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, JUNE 8, 1981
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," requiring that general
4 assistance applicants or recipients make resort to certain
5 Federal benefits as a condition to eligibility or continued
6 eligibility for general assistance.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
10 as the "Public Welfare Code," is amended by adding a section to
11 read:
12 Section 432.21. Requirement That Certain Federal Benefits be
13 Primary Sources of Assistance.--(a) All recipients or
14 applicants for general assistance in this Commonwealth shall
15 cooperate with the department in identifying the eligibility of
16 such recipients or applicants for Federal Social Security
17 Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Social Security
18 Retirement, Survivor's and Disability Income benefits (RSDI) or
1 other Federal programs as the primary source of financial
2 assistance for such persons. The department shall promulgate
3 regulations and implement procedures thereunder which shall have
4 the effect and purpose of identifying those recipients of or
5 applicants for general assistance who may be eligible for such
6 SSI, RSDI or other Federal benefits, and which will provide
7 administrative personalized assistance to such recipients or
8 applicants in presenting appeals and processing claims for SSI,
9 RSDI, or other Federal benefits as well as any appropriate
10 appeals from the denial of such Federal claims. Such procedures
11 shall include appropriate methods for investigation and
12 verification of medical data pertinent to such recipients or
13 applicants including medical examinations. Nothing in this act
14 shall be construed to require the department to provide medical
15 examinations for all recipients. Any person who shall fail to
16 cooperate with the department in an effort to establish such
17 person's eligibility for SSI, RSDI or other Federal benefits
18 shall have his general assistance terminated forthwith, or if he
19 has not previously received general assistance, shall thereby be
20 rendered ineligible for such assistance for a period of sixty
21 days by reason of his noncooperation.
22 (b) All such applicants for or recipients of general
23 assistance shall reimburse the department for any public
24 assistance grants made to them in the amount of the SSI, RSDI or
25 other Federal benefits awarded them, as a condition to
26 eligibility for general assistance.
27 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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