For rational α, the fractional partition functions pα(n) are given by the coefficients of the generating function (q; q) α ∞ . When α = −1, one obtains the usual partition function. Congruences of the form p(ℓn + c) ≡ 0 (mod ℓ) for a prime ℓ and integer c were studied by Ramanujan. Such congruences exist only for ℓ ∈ {5, 7, 11}. Chan and Wang [4] recently studied congruences for the fractional partition functions and gave several infinite families of congruences using identities of the Dedekind eta-function. Following their work, we use the theory of non-ordinary primes to find a general framework that characterizes congruences modulo any integer. This allows us to prove new congruences such as p 57 61 (17 2 n − 3) ≡ 0 (mod 17 2 ).