Sep. 28—The PA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line is a first-of-its-kind phone service staffed by attorneys at SeniorLAW Center who will offer legal information, advice and referrals as well as services for older caregivers who need support in custody or other legal areas involving kinship care.
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Jason Kavulich this week announced the expansion of a free legal service and referral resource to support grandparents raising grandchildren across the Commonwealth.
“A growing number of grandparents in Pennsylvania are becoming a parent for the second time as they make the selfless choice to raise their grandchildren,” Kavulich said. “While supporting their adult child with a substance use disorder, coping with an unfortunate death or other circumstances they could not predict, grandparents in this position are often faced with suddenly having to navigate unfamiliar systems. The Department is committed to ensuring older adults — whether they are still working, retired or act as caregivers — have the support and resources they need to thrive in their golden years.”
By calling SeniorLAW Center at 1-877-727-7529, older caregivers can receive free advice and counsel on a variety of civil matters, including custody and dependency; support in representing themselves in family court, such as help with preparing necessary documents; information on kinship caregivers, support groups, and other resources. A grant from the Department of Aging has enabled this service to expand from serving the Philadelphia region, to now serving all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
“The law affects all of our lives dramatically, but particularly those who are low-income, vulnerable, or older,” said Karen Buck, Executive Director, SeniorLAW Center. “It is a privilege to pursue our mission of justice for older Pennsylvanians, upon whose shoulders we all stand. Bravo to Governor Shapiro and Secretary Kavulich for investing in access to justice and the lives of older people and the children they are raising. Onward!”
In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 83,000 grandparents who are among other kinship caregivers — such as aunts or uncles, adult siblings, or a close family friend — who are caring for nearly 260,000 children. Many of these families interact regularly with Pennsylvania’s court system.
“We applaud and support the expansion of this helpline into a service accessible to all grandparents raising grandchildren in Pennsylvania. Older Pennsylvanians are often among our most vulnerable citizens, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have access to justice and protections against abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation,” said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Debra Todd. “Through the work of the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts and our Advisory Council, we are taking meaningful steps to safeguard older adults and strengthen support systems statewide.”
Help offered to understand new SNAP requirements
Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh this week visited Philadelphia Works to explain the impact of the Republican budget bill on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and what Pennsylvanians need to know about new work and reporting requirements that are now in effect.
Arkoosh highlighted the federal changes, which took effect Sept. 1, and how the Department is helping SNAP recipients meet the requirements and maintain their benefits.
“Nearly two million Pennsylvanians receive life-sustaining food benefits from SNAP every month,” Arkoosh said. “It is this extra bit of help putting food on their tables that enables people to go to school, work, and live healthy lives with the dignity we all deserve.”
Effective Sept. 1, certain SNAP recipients must report work, education, training or volunteer hours to Pennsylvania DHS to maintain benefits. These requirements will expand throughout Fall 2025.
Last month, DHS announced a new website — dhs.pa.gov/work — detailing the changes to SNAP work and reporting requirements. The website provides details on who is affected, how to meet the work and reporting requirements, and which SNAP recipients may qualify for an exemption and how to obtain one.
The federal budget bill passed by Congressional Republicans and signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, eliminates flexibilities that previously allowed states to — for some recipients — request waivers for work and reporting requirements based on local unemployment rates or job availability.
Under the new law, affected SNAP recipients must report at least 20 hours of work, education, training, or volunteering per week (or 80 hours per month) if they:
—Are 18 — 54 years old;
—Do not have a dependent child under 18; and
—Are physically and mentally able to work.
Recipients who do not meet these requirements can only receive three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period.
State: Haunted attractions need to remain safe
As Halloween attractions open their doors this season, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is reminding haunted attraction operators they must comply with all provisions of the Child Labor Act and applicable other protections when employing performers or volunteers under the age of 18.
L&I is also encouraging parents of child performers to talk with their children about their experiences at work to ensure they feel safe and are being treated properly.
L&I takes numerous steps to ensure that the health, safety, and welfare requirements for child performers are being met at haunted attractions, with enforcement measures including but not limited to:
—Attraction site visits throughout the season.
—Check-ins with performers, focused on proper training and safety protocols.
—Discussions with performers’ parents about safety and work environment conditions.
Employers who fail to meet the standards of the Child Labor Act, including by not providing a safe working environment, will have performers’ permits revoked.
“Many young people use the festive season to gain work experience in a fun environment. However, neither entertainment nor work experience should come at the expense of healthy, safe, and fair working conditions for child performers,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Employers of Halloween attractions must follow Pennsylvania’s enhanced protections for child performers. To the parents and young performers, know that L&I is a resource if something does not feel right, and that there is recourse when employers operate unlawfully.”
—Child entertainment permits
Children working as performers or volunteers are afforded special protections under state law, such as required breaks. Employers of child performers must apply for entertainment permits on behalf of each child performer, including those who perform live at Halloween-themed attractions. L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance (BLLC) approves permits that meet the requirements of the Act.
Each year, BLLC issues approximately 1,500 entertainment permits. The permits require information about the child’s employment arrangement and a parent or guardian’s signature. BLLC does not approve permits for performances that are potentially dangerous or hazardous to the child’s well-being.
—Penalties for violations
Violations of the Child Labor Act may be punishable by either criminal penalties or administrative fines up to $5,000.
—How to apply and report
Employers should submit applications to BLLC before the minor’s first performance or rehearsal. A school official must complete the section applicable to performing or rehearsing during school hours.
Applications can be submitted by mail to the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance (651 Boas Street, Room 1301, Harrisburg, PA 17121-0750) or by email at ra-lislmr-ent_apps@pa.gov.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.