Evening star., 1936-02-18
PLAN SUBMITTED
TOCAP|TAL HEADS
GIVEN APPROVAL
Some Days Must EIapse,
However, for Examination
of Applications.
RUTLAND NAMED AGENT
FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN
About 1000 Old Persons and 200
to 300 Blind to Be Cared
For, Officials Say.

Machinery for dispensation of aid TO
the needy aged and blind was set in
motion today by the Commissioners
when they approved a general plan
submitted by the Board of Public We'll
fare. Some days must elapse, how
ever, before the first applications can
be examined and certified.
The Commissioners also today desig.
mated Health Officer George c. Rub.
land as their agent for the dispen-
sation of aid to crippled children, q
third phase of the Federal social Sc
curity program under which the Dis
trict is receiving grants from the
United States on pro-rata basis
with the States. The Federal grant
for this program will be $4,000 a
year.
Elwood Street, welfare director, an
nounced that financing anj plans now
are in shape for the aged and blind aid
programs and that application forms
now are being printed Applications
for such aid may be made in the
meantime, he said, at the oflce of the
Public Assistance Division, Fifth and
H streets, or at any of its branch
stations.
2,000 Aged to Be Eligible.
Officials estimate roughly there will
be about 1000 aged persons eligible
for aid and that the number of needy,
blind persons may run from 200 to
800. The amount Of relief which may
be granted. is not fixed by law. The
Federal Government in both instances
will contribute up to SIS a month,
matching District contributions, max
ing the total possible maximum $50 a
month, if the District does not pro-
vide more than the Federal Govern
ment. 1t has not been determined If
this will be the limit in any particular
case.
The deficiency act. just signed by
the President, carries an appropria-
ton out of District revenues of $780,
600 for old-age aid and $22,500 for
aid for the blind
Late last week the Federal Social
Security Board announced it had
placed to the credit of the District
$47.250 for old age aid, for February
and March. and for the needy blind a
sum of S9,450 for the same two
months.
- $45.S00 Allotted for Children.
At the same time the Federal
board allotted s45,SOO for aid for de-
pendent children, which will be dis
pensed by the District Welfare Board
in an expansion of its mothers pen
sion program.
To be eligible for old-age help, ap-
plicants must be IS years old or older.
have lived five out of the last nine
years in the District and have lived
here continuously for the past year
and must be citizens of the United
States. Children or grandchildren Of
applicants must continue to aid them
to the extent of their financial ability.
Some additional staff will be ap-
pointed to the Welfare Department
to handle old age and blind aid. The
board now is consulting with the Civil
Service Commission on rules Of ap-
pointments.
The Public Assistance Committee
of the Welfare Board will act as an
advisory board for both old-age and
blind programs. 1t will act as board
of appeals to consider actions on ap-
plications.
Gases to Be Investigated.
All investigations of applications for
old-age aid and all case work will be
carried on through the district Offices
Of the Public Assistance Division. Be-
fore each grant is made the recipients
needs are to be carefully budgeted sc-
cording to individual circumstances.
Every six months or oftener each grant
Is to be reviewed by caseworkers. Old
age assistance will be discontinued
whenever the recipient ceases to be
resident of the District
Much the same general rules apply
to aid for the needy blind.
Special consultants are to be named
to supervise old-age and blind assist
auce