Sen. Marty Flynn, D-Scranton, this week announced that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has approved $1,432,092 in grant funding for agencies in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

The funding supports the ongoing work of local organizations that respond to substance use, provide trauma-informed care, and assist victims and families who rely on services throughout the justice system.

Flynn said each award strengthens a different part of the safety network that these communities depend on, allowing agencies to broaden treatment access, reinforce counseling programs, and maintain critical support for residents navigating difficult circumstances.

“These grants give our local partners the tools they need to continue work that is essential to families in our region,” Flynn said. “The organizations receiving this funding deal with challenging situations every day, and this support helps them reach more people and offer care that is consistent and dependable.”

Luzerne County

• Luzerne County Chief Executive Officer — STOP Program 2025-2027

Fund Name: Federal STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Funds — $125,000

• Luzerne County Chief Executive Officer — 2025 VOJO/RASA Services

Fund Name: VOCA, CVSC & Victims of Juvenile Offender (VOJO) Funds — $261,900

Lackawanna County

• Geisinger Clinic — Project PATH

Fund Name: Federal State Opioid Response Grant IV (SOR) Funds – $494,530

• Lackawanna County Commissioners — Improving Justice System Response to SUD

Fund Name: Federal State Opioid Response Grant IV (SOR) Funds — $180,000

• Integrative Counseling Services — Healing Through Evidence-Based Trauma Care

Fund Name: State Endowment Act Funds — $29,500

• Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern PA — Compliance with NCA Standards in 2026

Fund Name: State Children’s Advocacy Center Funds — $50,000

• Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (WRC) — WRC/LCDA STOP Program

Fund Name: Federal STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Funds — $125,000

• Lackawanna County Commissioners — RASA/VOJO Services

Fund Name: VOCA Victim Services Funds — $150,460

• Women’s Resource Center — VOJO Services

Fund Name: VOCA Victim Services Funds — $15,702

Pa. launches new tools to lower SNAP error rate

The Shapiro Administration this week launched a suite of new and improved technology and tools to support the Commonwealth’s administration and management of public assistance programs and improve customer experience.

The new tools will allow Pennsylvanians to track their benefits applications in real-time, help Pennsylvania continue to reduce its SNAP Error Rate, and save millions in taxpayer dollars and thousands of hours in staff overtime.

DHS and CODE PA have piloted these new tools for the last two months, demonstrating positive results that have saved hundreds of hours of staff and helped caseworkers catch — and resolve — common errors.

During the pilot, the use of intelligent document processing cut down on the number of illegible documents submitted by 80%, saving 700 hours of staff time.

Likewise, the new SNAP case checker helped staff prioritize more than 1,000 cases for additional review, helping reduce the risk of additional SNAP case errors.

“Staff at DHS’ County Assistance Offices work tirelessly every day to help Pennsylvanians in difficult situations access assistance that can help weather a crisis or take a step forward,” said Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “This work requires constant attention to detail and focus on accuracy to make proper eligibility determinations — often under pressure from people who do not understand the care and diligence this team brings to their work.”

New resources and solutions include:

• My Benefits Status Tracker: A new tool that will show applicants and clients where their application is in real-time. The tracker is accessible at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.

• Intelligent Document Processing: Documents will be scanned for legibility when users upload required documentation to COMPASS to verify information in their application or renewal.

• Consent-Based Income Verification: Clients applying for or renewing DHS benefits will be able to opt-in to allow DHS to verify income data directly with a person’s listed employer(s). This adds yet another tool for DHS to verify income.

• Self -service Password Reset: Pennsylvanians can now reset their passwords directly through COMPASS without a caseworker’s assistance, improving prior processes which required an actual staff member’s time and attention to authorize resets.

• SNAP Case Checker: Supervisors within DHS’ Office of Income Maintenance Operations team, who process and oversee eligibility determinations when a person applies for or renews their benefits, now receive daily reports flagging common potential case errors like missing signatures or calculations of wages and deductions before a case is submitted for quality control reviews.

“We are leveraging modern technology, including AI, to improve access to benefits that are a vital lifeline to millions of Pennsylvanians and empower caseworkers with tools to do their jobs more effectively,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver.

Treasurer announces expanded access to PA ABLE

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity this week announced that starting Jan. 1, 2026, Pennsylvanians with a disability that started prior to the age of 46 will be eligible to save through the PA ABLE — Achieving a Better Life Experience Savings Program.

Prior to this coming expansion, participation in the program was limited to those whose disability occurred prior to the age of 26.

PA ABLE accounts provide Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and their families, the opportunity to save money tax-free without impacting important benefits. Thanks to the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, ABLE accounts will now be accessible to six million more Americans, including one million veterans.

“This significant expansion of eligibility to save with PA ABLE will usher in an era of greater financial independence and security for more of our friends and family members living with disabilities,” Garrity said. “By broadening access to PA ABLE, we are helping to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to flourish — a vision that was unattainable before ABLE programs.”

In 2014, federal legislation authorized states to establish ABLE programs, with Pennsylvania opening its first PA ABLE account in 2017 following the passage of legislation championed by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township. Since then, the program has grown to become the fifth largest program in the country with over 11,500 accounts and more than $180 million saved.

PA ABLE offers a variety of investment options including a checking account where contributions grow tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified disability expenses are also free from state and federal taxes. Qualified expenses include a wide range of items such as rent, healthcare, groceries, assistive technology, vehicle modifications and much more.

Up to $19,000 in contributions to a PA ABLE account can be deducted from Pennsylvania income taxes annually. PA ABLE assets are also exempt from state inheritance tax.

New this year, anyone can contribute to a loved one’s PA ABLE account by purchasing an online gift card to be redeemed into an account, or making a gift directly through the gift platform with a code shared by the account owner. To learn more visit paable.gov/gift.

“PA ABLE accounts have already made a meaningful difference in the lives of so many Pennsylvanians,” Garrity said. “I encourage everyone to explore how this financial tool can provide security and stability for themselves or their loved ones”

To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov, email [email protected], or call 855-529-2253.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.