Responsabilidad de los familiares para el cuidado de indigentes

Explicación Simple

Si alguien no tiene dinero para vivir, su familia tiene que ayudarlo. Esto incluye a su pareja, hijos y padres, a menos que no puedan pagar o si el padre abandonó al hijo por mucho tiempo.

Es como cuando un amigo se queda sin comida y tú decides invitarlo a cenar. Si tienes recursos, es natural ayudar a quienes más quieres.

Ejemplo Práctico

María tiene 70 años y no puede trabajar. Su esposo, Juan, debe ayudarla económicamente. Sin embargo, si Juan pierde su trabajo y no tiene dinero, no será obligado a ayudarla. Además, si su hijo Carlos fue abandonado por Juan durante su infancia, Carlos no tiene que ayudar a su padre.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

23 Pa.C.S. 4603 - Relatives' Liability; Procedure (a) Liability.-- (1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), all of the following individuals have the responsibility to care for and maintain or financially assist an indigent person, regardless of whether the indigent person is a public charge: (i) The spouse of the indigent person. (ii) A child of the indigent person. (iii) A parent of the indigent person. (2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in any of the following cases: (i) If an individual does not have sufficient financial ability to support the indigent person. (ii) A child shall not be liable for the support of a parent who abandoned the child and persisted in the abandonment for a period of ten years during the child's minority. (b) Amount.-- (1) Except as set forth in paragraph (2), the amount of liability shall be set by the court in the judicial district in which the indigent person resides. (2) For medical assistance for the aged other than public nursing home care, as provided in section 401 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, the following apply: (i) Except as set forth in subparagraph (ii), the amount of liability shall, during any 12-month period, be the lesser of: (A) six times the excess of the liable individual's average monthly income over the amount required for the reasonable support of the liable individual and other persons dependent upon the liable individual; or (B) the cost of the medical assistance for the aged. (ii) The department may, by reasonable regulations, adjust the liability under subparagraph (i), including complete elimination of the liability, at a cost to the Commonwealth not exceeding those funds certified by the Secretary of the Budget as available for this purpose. (c) Procedure.--A court