135.6 6 Time Frames for Approving or Denying a Request for Special Allowances for Supportive Services

Special allowances for all supportive services will be paid by the CAO in advance of the date that payment is required by the service provider, consistent with the requirements and time frames discussed in this section.

55 Pa. Code § 165.42(a)

NOTE: If the CAO failed to make a timely decision or issuance and the client was determined eligible to receive the SPAL, it may be issued as a reimbursement to the client based on CAO error. The decision and actions must be clearly entered into case comments. See Cash Assistance Handbook 181.2 .

When the CAO obtains or receives verification within five (5) calendar days after the request for a special allowance for supportive services, the CAO will authorize payment no later than ten (10) days after the date of request.

55 Pa. Code § 165.45

When the CAO obtains or receives verification more than five (5) calendar days following the request for a special allowance, the CAO will authorize payment no later than five (5) calendar days after the receipt of verification.

NOTE: In some circumstances it might not be possible to issue a payment via EBT, local issuance check or restricted endorsement check before the date payment is required by an item or service provider. This might occur because of the timing of the individual’s request or because of a delay in obtaining verification necessary to evaluate the special allowance request. Under these circumstances as with all others, the payment for an approved special allowance request must be authorized within the required time frame, regardless of the length of time needed by the CAO to issue the payment.

When the last day or authorization of payment falls on a weekend or holiday, the CAO will authorize payment on or before the working day immediately preceding the weekend or holiday.

Authorization of payment includes actually processing all the data needed to issue a check, including completing all required forms, and performing data entry.

The CAO will issue the written decision approving a SPAL within the time frame for authorization in this section.

Determine the method of payment, such as EBT, local issuance check or central issuance check that provides payment of the SPAL on or before the date payment is required by the item or service provider.

NOTE: Special allowance payments for automobile purchases, down payments and repairs, when approved and upon authorization, must be issued to the individual via the restricted endorsement check process. Restricted endorsement checks are made payable to both the individual and the item or service provider. The restricted endorsement check is then mailed directly to the service provider. Signatures of both the individual and the provider are required.

62 P.S. § 403(g)