The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-08-30
QUALIFICATIONS FOR OLD AGE
PENSIONS
Charities Board Head Says Law l;
Misunderstood


A food of non-eligible applicant.
for old-age pensions persons who
lied for a pension simply because
they had passed the age of 65-ha.
ed Samuel e. Shannahan, chairman
If The Board of State Aid and Chair
lies, to set forth list of qualfica-
ions for eligibility.
The State old-age pension law,
egally operative June 1, has no.
been placed in effect, blu. investiga
ions are being made all over Mary
and by local welfare boards and list
If eligibles are being prepared.
Surplus revenue from the one Pc
lent. gross receipts tax-that is, al
above $3,5O0,0O0 pledged to direc
elief-is to be applied 20 old-agt
pension payments. None of the SUI
plus has been made available yet b:
he State Treasury, but will be forth
coming, welfare officials said, When
objection of the $3,500,000 for di
4ct relief has been assured.
Il is expected, if the full ST.,
100000 of the surplus dedicated
old-age pensions does not accrue
hat whatever surplus there is viii
)e allocated pro-rata among tn,
states twenty-four political subdi
rsions The old-age pension Law
vas passed at the last Legislature.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Shanahal
aid, sit seems there is considerable
misunderstanding regarding the new
Jld-age pension law Throughout: the
State.
1.-The Board of State Aid ano
Charities and all it's local units have
1een literally swamped with appli
ations from thousands of people
Who are under the impression they
ire eligible for old-age relief merely
because they are IS years of age oil
over.
"This, of course, is not the case.
We must be guided by the law now
IN the statute books, which states
hat only those who are in need and
without resources are eligible In
rider to determine need, thorough
financial investigation must be made
md certain specific requirement;
must be met
"Thus the law requires that the
applicant must be without means OF
support either from his own re
sources or those of legally responsible
elatives. For example, son who
S working must support his aged
parents if he is financially able to dc
so.
1.-The applicant must be SIS years
If age or over, and there must be
documentary evidence of this fact
HE must have been citizen OF
his country for fifteen years or
more.
''He must have resided in the State
1t least five years within the last ten
years.
"He cannot be an inmate of pub
Tic correctional institution, nor can
ne have wilfully failed to support his
family, or been convicted of felony
turing the last ten years.
He must be without relatives who
ire both legally responsible for his
support and able 10 support him.
when the pension is granted the
.otal income of the aged person, from
all sources, including the pension,
cannot exceed $50 per month. For
his reason it is necessary to inves-
tigate an application for old-age pen
sion in regard to: Bank savings, in
surance, real property, building and
oan, compensations or pensions of
any kind.
"It is necessary to make this in
vestigation not only of the applicant
himself, but also of the relatives
legally responsible for support.
"The law specifically prohibits
payment of a pension to any one
who has deprived himself or herself,
or indirectly, of any property
for the purpose of qualifying for an
old. age pension, 1t is a criminal
offense to obtain, attempt to obtain,
or aid and abet any person to obtain
a pension by false statements.
1T is extremely important tina. the
above qualifications be read very
before any application is
made for an old age pension. If this
s done, much time and effort will be
saved for all parties concerned, and
disappointments and
h aa ri a chaa will ha avoided"