The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services shared information about the Emergency Cash Assistance Program opening to families with a child under age 18 or pregnant women making 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or less. Families must also meet resource limits and have at least one person who was employed as of March 11, 2020 and lost employment or experienced an hour and wage reduction of at least 50 percent for at least two weeks due to the pandemic. Eligible families will receive a one-time payment equal to two months of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits for their household size, so a family of three would get an average one-time payment of $806. TANF provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities and expenses other than medical. The program will run through June 12.
