Economic Justice

Impact on Public Policy
Welfare Recipients & Domestic Violence

Our Work

Economic Justice: Impact on Public Policy

Domestic Violence and Welfare Recipients

Since 1997, Women’s Law Project has assisted the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in providing flexibility and confidentiality to survivors of domestic violence on welfare through implementation of the federal Family Violence Option (FVO).

Child Support “Pass Through” Funding

As a result of meetings with Pennsylvania’s Governor, the Secretary of Planning and Policy, and the Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, Governor Rendell signed legislation in May 2008 increasing the Child Support Pass-Through. During those meetings, advocates asked for more state support for families on welfare, including increased child support “pass-through” funding. The law allows many low-income mothers and children access to desperately needed additional income. It also allows the courts discretion in modifying support orders, giving some imprisoned parents the opportunity to get back on their feet and resume child support when they re-enter the community without the burden of crushing debt.

Restoring Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Benefits to Women

In December 2004, in response to WLP advocacy, the Pennsylvania legislature restored TANF cash assistance and food stamps to impoverished people who had been permanently banned from receiving these welfare benefits because of a felony drug conviction. Those hurt by the lifetime ban were poor women with children, whose felony convictions arose out of their addiction to drugs. According to a study of this population in 1998, their addictions co-occurred with histories of sexual abuse or battering, often in their childhood or early teenage years. With several other agencies—Philadelphia’s Community Legal Services, Interim House and My Sister’s Place—the WLP organized a meeting for these women with lawmakers. Their powerful testimony impressed upon the legislators the need to restore benefits to support recovery from addiction and reunification of families.