Community Legal Services (CLS) has prepared many documents, brochures, and pamphlets that contain legal information for clients, community groups, and advocates.  These documents provide information to use and share about one's rights--and responsibilities--regarding many different public benefits and welfare programs.

If you have any questions or feedback about any of these documents, please call our Welfare Law Line at 215-227-6485.

General
Overview of Welfare and Public Benefits Programs (updated Feb 08) (English / Español)
How to Appeal a Decision by DPW (version 1) (English / Español)
How to Appeal a Decision by DPW (version 2) (English / Español)
How to Appeal a Decision by DPW (version 3) (English / Chinese)
Guide to Kinship Care in Philadelphia (updated 4/03)
Welfare rights for teenagers (updated 9/06)
 

Child Care Subsidies
Child care eligibility for people in outpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs
Understanding child care unification in Philadelphia (updated 4/07)

Food Stamps
Food Stamps Fact Sheet for Seniors and Working Families (updated 8/09)
Food Stamps Fact Sheet for Working Families (updated 10/08) (English / Arabic  / Bengali / Chinese / Khmer / Polish  / Español / Urdu / Vietnamese )
Make sure the homeless receive their full amount of food stamps (updated 10/08)
The homeless can receive food stamps (updated 5/08)
Summary of food stamp rules (updated 02/09)
Obtaining child care and other supportive services while on food stamps (updated 5/04) 
Food stamp verification requirements (updated 2/09)
Food stamp computation sheet  (updated 2/09)

Health Insurance Programs
Who should apply for medical assistance (updated 2/01)
Getting better medical assistance if you are on GA (updated 10/05)
Medical assistance for immigrants (English / Chinese)
Medical assistance for workers with disabilities (updated 9/06) (English / Español / Chinese / Vietnamese / Cambodian / French / Russian)
Medical assistance and abortions (updated 11/02)
COBRA Premium Assistance Frequently Asked Questions (updated 5/10)

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP raises income limit for regular grants (at least $300) and crisis grants (up to $800). Find out how to apply now. (updated 11/08)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) & Other Social Security Programs
Are you disabled?  Learn how to apply for SSI.  (updated 1/03)
What to do if you get charged with an SSI overpayment (updated 10/96)

TANF and GA Cash Assistance
New Benefits for Families Moving From Welfare to Work (4/09)
A guide for doctors and medical professionals on completing the Employability Assessment Form (EAF) (updated 9/98)
Homeless?  You are eligible to receive cash assistance
Stopping your TANF clock when you are disabled by enrolling in MPP
How to fight a welfare or food stamp overpayment (updated 1/02)

Welfare and Public Benefits for Immigrants
Immigrants' rights to public benefits (updated 4/07)
Immigrants, public benefits, and public charge issues (updated 2/07)
Medical assistance for immigrants

Welfare and Public Benefits for People Affected by Domestic Violence
A guide for advocates on General Assistance (GA) eligibility for people affected by domestic violence (updated 2003)
Domestic violence exemptions to child support enforcement requirements (updated 10/06)
Obtaining a waiver from welfare rules based on domestic violence (updated 2005)

Welfare and Public Benefits for People with Criminal Records
Many people on house arrest can now get TANF or GA cash assistance (updated 9/08)
What benefits can I get if I have a criminal record (updated 6/06)
Chart of eligibility for public benefits for people with criminal records (updated 2005)
Impact of criminal records on public benefit eligibility (updated 2005)
Public benefit consequences for people with criminal records (updated 2005)

Welfare-to-work
How to fight against unfair employment & training sanctions (updated 9/06) 
Special allowances you can get to help you go to school or get a job (updated 2/99) (English / Español)
Working and welfare: Make sure you get the supports you need