Individuals participating in approved Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also known as cash assistance, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) activities, including approved education and training (E&T) activities, are eligible to receive special allowances (SPALs). SPALs are targeted, needs-based grants to cover the cost of items needed to successfully participate in E&T activities.
The county assistance office (CAO) is responsible to inform individuals of the availability of SPALs, and contracted E&T programs often assist clients in contacting the CAO to submit the SPAL Verification Form (PA 1883). SPALs are issued in advance of the need for the service or item to enable participation in an approved E&T activity. A notice of the decision must be sent within 15 days of an individual's request for the SPAL.
Clients are eligible for SPALs after they agree to participate in an allowable E&T activity approved on the individual's current PA 1661 Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) or PA 1531 Employment Development Plan (EDP). An AMR is completed when a client is receiving TANF benefits and an EDP is completed for clients receiving SNAP benefits, but not TANF. To be eligible for a SPAL:
- The item or service is required to support participation in work or an approved activity,
- The item or service is not available from another source or at no cost to the individual,
- The individual does not already have the item,
- The item or service has not already been paid for or obtained, and
- Participation is not possible without the item or service.
An individual who is requesting a SPAL must provide an estimate for the cost of the requested item or service, and it must be determined to be the least costly and most practical item or service that will meet the need. If the SPAL is approved, the recipient of a SPAL must provide an original receipt showing that it was used for its intended purpose within 14 days of receiving the benefit or an overpayment will be processed.
The chart below shows the most common SPALs. For the full list, please see the SPAL Desk Guide.
Type of Allowance | Subcategory | TANF Frequency | SNAP Frequency | Maximum Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | Bus | As required for job interviews, approved activities or for employment. May be authorized for the period up to the date of the first pay | As required for job interviews, or approved activities or to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | $1,500 annually (July 1-June 30) |
| Mileage | As required for job interviews, approved activities or for employment. May be authorized for the period up to the date of the first pay. Paid at $0.20 per mile | As required for job interviews, or approved activities or to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | --- | --- |
| Motor Vehicle Repair | As required for work orapproved activities | As required for job interviews, or approved activities or to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | --- | --- |
| Motor Vehicle Expenses (driver's license, inspection, registration, etc.) | As required for work or approved activities | NOT ALLOWABLE | --- | --- |
Clothing | Clothing for Employment/ Training | As required for work or approved activities | As required for approved activities or if required to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | $150 Annually |
Vehicle Purchase | Vehicle Purchase | As required for work or approved activities | NOT ALLOWABLE | One vehicle up to $1,500 in a lifetime |
| Work, Education and Training | Tools/Equipment | As required for work or approved activities | As required for approved activities or if required to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | $1,000 in a lifetime |
| Books/Supplies | As required for work or approved activities | As required for approved activities or if required to accept employment. May be authorized for the period up to the start date. | --- | --- |
Workplace Clothing
PA Workwear (PAWW)
TANF recipients are also eligible for a referral to PAWW if they have a need for clothing. Referrals are not limited, but the need for clothing is determined by the CAO or E&T contractor. The goal of PAWW is to promote and help ensure the economic independence of individuals who receive TANF by providing professional attire for job interviews and specific clothing necessary for employment or training in lieu of the special allowance listed above. To achieve that goal, various agencies across the Commonwealth have been contracted to provide clothing and other attire to TANF clients. PAWW provides a week's worth of new, clean and/or "ready to wear" clothing in classic or current styles — and includes interview attire, business casual, black and khaki pants, white shirts, scrubs, maternity, and other specific clothing needed to seek/obtain employment or participate in an approved training program.
Child Care
Participants in need of childcare will be referred by the CAO to the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) to explore local childcare options. It is the CAOs responsibility to determine whether the family needs childcare to participate in an approved E&T activity. At the ELRC, the participant is directly connected with a childcare provider approved by the ELRC. Generally, childcare allowances are available to an individual who:
- Has a need for childcare; and
- Has a child under 13 years of age, or a child aged 13 or older, but under age 19, with a physical and/or mental injury or impairment; and
- Meets the income guidelines; and
- Uses a childcare provider who meets the ELRC rules.
Legal Assistance
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
CAOs and E&T Providers may refer either TANF or SNAP participants to PLAN to assist with the following:
- Representation in matters relating to correction of errors in police reports and other public and private records, errors in state records, or errors in criminal court records.
- Representing participants seeking expungements.
- Representing participants seeking the sealing of records.
- Representing participants seeking pardons.
- Other: BEP pre-approval is required, and participant must also be receiving at least one of the services above.