The Kusko times., 1937-04-30
TELLS WORKINGS OF THE FEDERAL
 SECURITY LAW

So that Alaskans will be fully in- formed as to what public assistance" means under the provisions of the Social Security Act, Hugh J. Wade, in charge of the Alaska Office of the Social Security Board, has prepared the following explanation in question and answer form:
 QUESTION: Just exactly what is public assistance?
 ANSWER: Public assistance means aid from the government - regular . cash payments every month - to people who are in need and who must have public support. The Social Sc cUrity Act sets up a cooperative public welfare system, under which the federal government will join them -. assist them in providing fnan- q a.d to different groups of people za0 are unable to support them z=-5es. The act provides for assis-
 1-z -o nesdy old people 65 years of -e Cl1er, to needy blind people, -- to 1z 3endent children under Is v...o have been orpbanedror deprived nf the suport of the naural bread w;au r cf the family through death or other serions disaster.
 Ql :! IGN: Just how will the Tarr.i11 ;;l and Federal Government c.apci ate? What part will e;r h play?
 =, SWER: The Territory will real y Liay the major role. The federal government merely says toEtheIerri- tory: "Ne are rezdy,tn hslpGgoucare for your -6ependent children if you want our help. It Is entirely up 10 you. If you do, then set up plan for aid 10 your needy aged, ynsr blind, and your dependent children, a plan which IS in effect throughout Alaska and which meets certain min inauE1 requirements outlined ID the Soe.a. Security Act. If the Social Security Board finds that yoH plan meets these minimum requirements and approves 1t, then the Federal Government will pay a substantial part of whatever II takes 10 care for the people who are eligible to receive aid under your plan"
 QUESTION: How much would the Territory give a ne@oy aged person under this system and how much would the Federal Government give?
 ANSWER: The Federal Govern ment does not pay any money direct ly to individuals. Instead 1t would give Alaska a lump sum of money so that the Territory may provide more adequately for its people This old-age assistance would be given on the basis of need, as has been the case with the Territorial system in the past. Just as has been the case in Alaska ever since pioneers have beer helped, the Territory would de- cioe winch of its aged people were In need and eligible for assistance. Then the Territory would decide just how much each individual applicant should get, basing the amount on his or her particular needs and talk ing into account whatever resources the person may already have. This amount will necessarily differ from one person 10 the other and from one locality to anoher, depending on varying costs of living. The same method would be employed in the case of aid to dependent children.
 QUESTION: How woul the matching of Territorial and Federal funds be accomplished?
 ANSWER: The Territory, after having an approved plan, would tell the Social Security Board at the be- ginning Of each quarter just how many aOe1 individuals or dependent children it intended ts aid during the next three months and how much this would cost. The Federal Gov ernnent would then give the Terri tory exactly one-half the total cost of aid to needy persons 65 years Of age CT over, provided these persons were not inmates of public institutions. The Federal Government would not contribute to that part of any indl- vidnaPs allowance from the Terri tory which amounted to more than