Chatham v. Commonwealth

Opinion by

Judge Palladino,

We have consolidated for disposition the appeals of two general assistance claimants, Robert Chatham and Robert Sweeney, from separate orders of the Executive -Deputy Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare (Department), upholding hearing examiners’ decisions finding claimants ineligible for general assistance benefits as “chronically needy persons” pursuant to Section 432(3) (i) of the Public Welfare Code (Code).1

Section 432(3) of the Code distinguishes between “chronically needy persons”, who are eligible for an indeterminate period of benefits, and…