Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Department of Human Services (DHS) launched a Community Living Waiver effective January 1 to make services available to approximately 1,000 more individuals with an intellectual disability (ID) or autism in the commonwealth.
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“Since I took office I have been committed to expanding access to care, getting people off of waiting lists for care and increasing home and community care,” Governor Wolf said. “These waivers are a means to reduce the waiting list and provide people with high-quality care in their communities without a lot of bureaucratic red tape to make that happen.”​

Many people age 18-64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) are under the impression that if they earn any income they will lose their benefits. Although this is a myth, it is important to understand program and reporting rules that must be followed in order to comply with benefit requirements.

If you are age 18-64 and receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI), the Ticket to Work (Ticket) program can provide the support you need. Put an end to myths about the program and benefits and replace them with facts. Get encouraged with the knowledge that working and self-sufficiency are attainable!

A Message from Disability Rights Pennsylvania

The United States Senate is preparing to vote NEXT WEEK on the Graham Cassidy Amendment that will mean millions, including many people with disabilities, will lose health insurance.

Graham-Cassidy is more devastating to healthcare than any other proposal. It does not simply reduce the ACA’s commitment to healthcare, it ends it all together. Medicaid Expansion and subsidies for individual insurance? Gone in 2026. What’s also gone? Protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Also eliminated are the standards that ensure everyone has access to high quality health plans. What is the same is that it guts Medicaid and radically reduces care for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

SNAP recipients may see changes to their benefits beginning October 1, 2017

Harrisburg, PA –The federal government issues adjustments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) maximum benefit amounts, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year. This year’s adjustments were recently announced.
 
The changes, which vary by year, are based on an annual Cost of Living Adjustment and take effect on October 1, 2017. This year the maximum benefit amount will decrease, but the income limit will increase. For example, the income limit for a family of four at 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline will raise $25 from a monthly net income limit of $2,025 in October 2016 to $2,050 in October 2017.
 
“SNAP is a federal program that is administered by the state and provides critical benefits to Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable populations,” said Department of Human Services Acting Secretary Teresa Miller. “These benefits are used to buy food and help eligible low-income households in Pennsylvania have nutritious diets by increasing their food purchasing power at grocery stores and farmers’ markets.”