Shaffer v. Commonwealth

¶1This appeal, initiated by Nancy Shaffer (petitioner), follows an order of the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) which terminated the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) grant to Gena Briceland, daughter of the petitioner.

¶2The facts are undisputed. Gena Briceland, a dependent child, had received public assistance- under the AFDC program. Her mother divorced Miss Briceland’s father and remarried James Shaffer; neither petitioner nor her husband receive AFDC in their own right. The local County Assistance Office (CAO) terminated Miss Briceland’s AFDC grant because her available income exceeded applicable limits. The CAO, when computing Miss Briceland’s available income, included her stepfather’s income pursuant to Section 432.12(c) of the Public Welfare Code (Code), Act of June 13, 1967, P.L. 31, added by the Act of July 15, 1976, P.L. 933, as amended, 62 P.S. §432.12(c). On appeal, DPW affirmed the CAO reasoning that the income of a stepparent living with a dependent child must be included when determining eligibility for AFDC grants. This appeal followed.

¶3Our scope of review of final orders of DPW is limited to a determination of whether the findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence, constitutional rights have been violated, or errors of law have been committed. Spicer v. Department of Public *590Welfare, 58 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 558, 428 A.2d 1009 (1981).

¶4Petitioner contends that this regulation is unfair and illegal,1 that her husband, Miss Briceland’s stepfather, refuses to pay support and that Miss Brice-land’s father has not fulfilled his obligation of paying child support since 1981.

¶5DPW argues that Pennsylvania law requires the CAO to include income of a stepfather when computing available income to a dependent child. The law complies with federal law2 in order to avoid curtailment of federal funds to the Commonwealth’s AFDC program.

¶6We must agree with DPW. Section 432.12(c) of the Code states, in pertinent part: “ [I]n establishing financial eligibility and the amount of the assistance payment in both the aid to families with dependent children program and the general assistance program . . . [i]ncome of stepparents living in a household shall be considered available to the household by the department.” 62 P.S. §432.12(c). This provision requires that a stepparent’s income be included when calculating available income to a dependent child. Therefore, the AFDC grant was properly terminated.

¶7For this reason, the order is affirmed.

¶8Per Curiam Order

¶9Now, January 3, 1985, the order of the Department of Public Welfare, dated June 7, 1983, at No. 87172-C, is affirmed.