Pennsylvania Public Benefits Project

Pennsylvania Legal Services, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Community Justice Project, Community Legal Services - 050003

Abstract Number: 050003

April 2005

The Pennsylvania Public Benefits Project brings together the expertise of the Health Law Project, the Utility Law Project, Community Legal Services, the Community Justice Project, client groups such as the Welfare Rights Organization and Pennsylvania Clients Council, and expertise currently existing in the regional Legal Services programs to train, assist, and coordinate the local, regional and statewide work in the public benefits area, including the work of a team of identified public benefits advocates within regional programs.

The Project strives to make Pennsylvania's welfare system among the most humanitarian in its treatment of clients, enabling clients to get the benefits to which they are entitled, while helping many clients out of poverty. There is s special emphasis in the project on equipping clients to successfully transition from welfare to work and on developing individual client plans with equip them with the right training and education to succeed.

The Pennsylvania Public Benefits Project was created out of dedicated funding from Pennsylvania's Access to Justice Act (filing fee surcharge) revenues. This statewide project includes participation of all Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network programs with oversight by the Community Justice Project and Community Legal Services.

A full description of the project is included in the attachment.

Contact Information:

Samuel Milkes
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Legal Services
118 Locust Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 236-9486
smilkes@palegalservices.org

Additional Information:

• The Pennsylvania Public Benefits Project: Approved by the PLS and IOLTA Boards ( 74k)

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