62 Pa. Stat. § 432.1
Where an application for aid to families with dependent children is based upon deprivation of parental support or care due to the continued absence of a parent from the home, such deprivation exists when the nature of the absence, for any reason, interrupts or terminates the parent's functioning as a provider of maintenance, physical care or guidance for the child and the known or indefinite duration of the absence precludes continuing the parent's performance of his function as a provider. Absence alone shall not constitute deprivation.
It shall be the duty of the department to verify the continued absence of the parent from the home from information regarding the absent parent supplied by the applicant on his application, or by requiring the applicant to provide, where known, the name, social security number, description, employer and present or last known address of the absent parent upon request.
62 P.S. § 432.1