108.101 Non-Disclosure Requirements

All individuals must be assured that the personal data that they provide will be confidential. This is of critical importance to domestic violence victims /survivors since their physical wellbeing or life may be endangered should their whereabouts become known to the abuser. Protecting the victim /survivors address as well as other pertinent data is vital to family safety. In critical situations, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will assign a new social security number to a victim /survivor to help ensure that the victim /survivor cannot be identified. The CAO can inform individuals of this option. Discussions about specific domestic violence victims /survivors must be done in private with a supervisor and not shared elsewhere in the office.

55 Pa. Code § 108.14

Unless required by law or pursuant to the individual’s written authorization, the CAO shall not disclose or release to any individual, except as set forth in the note below any of the following information about an individual who has disclosed domestic violence:

55 Pa. Code § 108.14(a)

The address of the individual or any family or household member, including the individual’s and child(ren)’s residential address, the name and address of the individual’s employer, welfare to work program or other RESET activity, or school, the name and address of the child(ren)’s school, and the identity and location of childcare or medical providers.

Whether the individual or any family or household member is living in a shelter for battered individuals.

The amount of benefits received by the individual or any family or household member.

Whenever an outside agency or individual requests information about an applicant or recipient who has disclosed domestic violence, has a Protection From Abuse Order (PFA) or is at risk of further domestic violence, the CAO will:

55 Pa. Code § 108.14(b)

Provide the PA 1851 (See Appendix A ) to the client in person or by mail.

Include the name of the requestor, the specific information that is being requested and the purpose of the request.

Sign and have the client sign the completed form prior to release of any information.

Maintain the original PA 1851 in the case record.

The form is not required if the information must be provided under Supplemental Handbook Section 930.3, Disclosure of Client Information .

Whenever an abuser who is part of a budget group requests access to the DHS case file and domestic violence has been disclosed, the CAO shall consult the DHS Office of General Counsel to ensure that location information and domestic violence disclosures are removed from the file.

NOTE: These non-disclosure requirements apply even where the information is requested using the form PA 163 , Request for Address and/or Amount of Assistance.

The PA 4 , Authorization for Information, will not be construed to be the client’s consent to release personal information about domestic violence.

For Maximizing Participation Project (MPP) participants, information may be released with the individual’s informed consent on form PA 1723 (Authorization for Release of Information. The PA 1723 is available on DocuShare. Prior to releasing any information to a law enforcement officer, the CAO must contact the DHS Office of General Counsel and obtain specific authorization.