Advocacy Resources     The Welfare Agitator - Volume 11, No. 1 March 2004 Advocates Win Important Welfare Victory With New Policy on Education! Three months after the Welfare Justice Project organized a Listening Session in Pittsburgh with Welfare Secretary Estelle Richman, DPW implemented important new flexible policies to help people on TANF pursue education while they're on welfare (see page 2). The 15-page memo makes major improvements in DPW's RESET Policy. The new policy, implemented December 19, 2003, will provide clients: Good cause to Postpone the Initial Job Search (upfront) for TANF Parents engaged or enrolled in an approved education/job skills program Good cause to reduce hours of employment for TANF parents who begin an approved education/job skills program Good cause for hours of approved education/job skills training for post-24 month TANF parents and Extended TANF parents; hours spent in labs, internships or other education/training related activities will count toward the 20 hour per week work requirement This new policy also requires caseworkers to: Inform each client at application of education and training opportunities that he/she may pursue in the TANF program Advise clients that they may pursue education/training at any stage of the TANF program Advise clients who are exempt or who have good cause that they may volunteer to pursue education/training and receive supportive services Encourage and support clients' long range plans for employment and include these goals on the Agreement of Mutual Responsibility We are following up with Allegheny County Assistance Office staff to ensure that proper training of caseworkers on this new policy happens. If you have questions or feel that you have not been given an opportunity to take advantage of this new policy, contact Rochelle at (412) 431-8960. Basic Tips: Be sure to remind your caseworker that you are entitled to be informed of all of your education and training options! Notify your caseworker immediately when you decide to enroll in school or accept a new job! It will minimize delays in your special allowances. Back up verbal request/agreements with written ones. Keep copies of everything you give or send to your caseworker. Single Adults Now Eligible for more Food Stamps Able-bodied single adults are now eligible to enroll in the Food Stamp Program on the same terms and conditions as other individuals receiving assistance from the Department of Public Welfare, under a new policy announced January 15. The new policy lifts a restriction that had limited food stamp eligibility to only a few months during a 3-year period. The restriction applied to able-bodied adults, 18-49 years old, with no dependent children. Congress imposed this 3-month limit as part of the 1996 welfare reform as a measure to cut food stamps by $4 billion a year. Some counties and municipalities were already exempt from the time limit because of high unemployment, but 15,000 people in Pennsylvania are expected to benefit from the new policy, including people in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Anyone who has used up their 3 months of food stamps, can now re-apply for additional food stamps. Advice from a Leader Hello, my name is Dawn Bell, I am 36 years old and a single mother of three. Now, my family lives at HEARTH (Homelessness Ends with Advocacy Resources Training and Housing), a transitional housing program. I am a volunteer leader with Just Harvests' Welfare Justice Project. In the past 11 years I have been on and off welfare (TANF) many times and like most of you, I have had to battle for all that I have received from welfare. I will be giving you some helpful hints on how to get what you are entitled to. Remember that 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil", it is sad, but true. I have learned that the more noise you make, the sooner it will get done. After you and your caseworker sign your AMR, wait a day and call your caseworker and "gently" remind him or her who you are and what you are waiting for. If you must send in documentation to your caseworker, always keep a copy for yourself. If you hand deliver, get a receipt from the receptionist and check to see it is correct. Remember if your caseworker is not doing their job, talk to their supervisor and the supervisors supervisor and so on. Call early and call often! Call everyday if you have to, until you get some results. The most important thing to remember--be informed before any meeting of any kind because an informed client is a happy client! Please note, unfortunately being informed does not guarantee that you will not have any problems. Half the battle is getting a caseworker that is informed also. I hope that this advice helps someone. I have had to fight for everything from food stamps to book reimbursements to childcare. I know how frustrating it can be, but hopefully with Just Harvests' Welfare Justice Project and this advice, it will be a little easier for others. Our Statement of Purpose The Welfare Justice Project (WJP) empowers those affected by the Welfare System. It is open to any person interested in economic justice: welfare consumers, advocates and decision-makers to create positive change in the welfare system. WJP: advocates for just public policies with rallies, legislative visits, hearings and actions does one-on-one advocacy for welfare consumers who need that extra voice educates and empowers our members to demand justice and changes in the welfare system at the national, state and local level creates opportunities for grassroots leadership through our organizing campaigns. Changes in the Welfare Offices Have you noticed an improvement in services offered at the welfare offices? Pennsylvania's "Excellence of Service Initiative" works to improve the services that clients receive in their county offices. Some of the things to look out for are: confidentiality between the client and the receptionist with client's social security number being put on a piece of paper; more client-friendly waiting areas and removal of signs that are offensive to children; more magazines; lighted parking lots and directions to offices sent to clients from the DPW Communications Department. Allegheny County is conducting surveys to monitor how things are going. They have asked us to complete a survey, but we would like to hear from you. Call and tell us how you feel things are going in the offices. They will also be placing "Lock Boxes" in every office for clients to submit comments, suggestions and complaints. Only the Allegheny County Assistance Offices Executive Director will have access to these boxes. The phone system has been changed for financial reasons, limiting the amount of messages caseworkers can receive. If you are trying to reach your caseworker and his/her voicemail box is full, contact the Allegheny County DPW Communications Dept. at (412) 565-2146 and let a Program Service Advocate know. They will get the message to the caseworker or forward you to someone who can assist you. Also, if you have left a message for your caseworker and he/she has not returned your call, call the Communications Department. If you have a problem with your caseworker or questions regarding your case, call the Allegheny County DPW Communications Dept. at (412) 565-2146. Read Back issues of The Welfare Agitator The Welfare Agitator - Volume 9, No. 3 September 2003