The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-03-23
KEENE TELLS
HOW OLD AGE
PENSION ACTS
Board Determines Need and
Amount and May Change
as Conditions Require; Re-
quire Pay of Estate

A few words explanatory of the
provisions of the Old Age Pension
law which will become effective
June s, will no. doubt be of inter-
est as several inquiries have been
received by County Auditor E. O..
Keene relative to the new law.
The old age pension is another
form of INDECENT relief, dignified
by being designated as a pension
and is to be paid, as all other
county expenses are paid, from
money raised by direct taxation
through a tax levy made by the
County Commissioners, who are
charged with this duty and who
are also charged with the admin
istration of the old age pension
act.
Power is given the board to
grant monthly pension in such
amount as it may determine, but
not to exceed thirty dollars per
month to any needy person over
the age of sixty five years who
possesses certain prescribed quail
ifications.
All applications for old age PEN
sions shall be in writing, signed
and verified under oath by the ap-
plicant and supported by the affi-
davit of two reputable citizens of
the county. The application shall
show that the applicant:
(a) Is, and for fifteen years
last passed, has been a citizen of
the United States;
(b) Is and for fifteen years
last passed has been resident of
this state, or has been a resident
of this state for twenty-five years
and has resided therein continu-
ously for five years last passed;
(c) Has not, during the ten
years last passed, been imprision-
ed upon conviction of felony or
gross misdemeanor.
(d) If husband has not de-
serted or failed to support wife
and children, and, if a wife has
not deserted her husband or her.
children.
(e) Has not during the year
last passed had an income exceed
ing three hundred sixty dollars,
which income shall be computed
by'adding to the actual income five
percent of the fair cash market
value of all property owned by
the applicant;
(G Has not directly or indi-
rectly disposed or deprived. him
self Of any property for the pur-
pose of reducing his computed in
come and qualifying for an old
age pension; and
(g) Has no relative responsible
under the law who is able to sup
port him.
The application shall contain
certain required information and
shall be filed with the clerk of
the board and shall come on for
hearing at the next ensuing reg
ular session. The board shall have
the power to require the applicant
to appear in person at the hearing
and testify under oath as. to all
matters contained in the applica-
ton and such other matters, touch
ing his need for support in the
form of a pension as it may be
deemed necessary, and examine
and take testimony of witnesses
in support of or against such APP
plication.
Upon the conclusion of the
hearing the board shall enter an
order denying the application and
the grounds therefor or granting
a monthly pension in such
amount, not exceeding thirty dol
lars per month, and for such
length of time not exceeding one
year, as to the board shall seem
Just and reasonable and the board
shall have the power to impose as
condition to such grant. that the
applicant shall assign and trans
fer to the county the. whole, or
such portion of his property as
the board shall deem adequate, as
security for the repayment of the
amount paid as a pension, to-
gether with interest.
Should the pensioner become
possessed of property or income