The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-10-05
Aged Need Not
Fear Lien Law,
Director Says
WELFARE WORKERS IN
CONFERENCE HERE
HEAR w. w. FINKE

Safeguards to guarantee that
no needy aged person will suffer
through administration of the lien
provision of the amended cd age
assistance law were explained in
redwood Falls Tuesday by Wal
ter w. Finke, director of the di-
vision of social welfare.
The conference is one of six
preparatory to putting the new
law into effect on January /, 1910.
Even the jury box and hailiff's
seats of the Redwood county
court room were filled as an esti-
mated 125 welfare board members
and social workers from % south
western Minnesota counties gath
cred for the conference.
Mr.. Finke also discussed the re-
examination of the economic
status of all WPA workers requir-
ed by a federal law enacted by
the last session of congress. The
new examination must be made
by county welfare boards who
have been designated as local
certifying agencies.
"A lot of miSinformation as to
lien measure has gained circula-
ton and as result, many old age
assistance beneficiaries have be-
come needlessly alarmed" Mr.
Finke said, "No old person is 60
ing to be thrown out of his or
her home. There is not a single
provision in the law that will
work hardship on any person
who is now or who may become
eligible for this particular form
of assistance"
There are five principal ways
in which the interest and welfare
Of elderly people are protected, he
said. These are:
1.-THE lien does not and
cannot cover any funds that
have been or may be spent by
children to improve the proper
ty or pay taxes thereon.
''2-The lien does not in any
way deprive an old age assist
ance recipient of the homestead.
while he is living.
''3-The lien cannot be en-
forced against the homestead
while it is occupied by the sur
Viving spouse or minor chill
dren.
''4-The lien may be released
in whole or in part if such ac-
ton is deemed necessary for
the maintenance or support OF
4, the recipient, his spouse, minor
or incapacitated children.
"5-The law, in dealing with
out-of-state property, provides
that such property need not be
sold at a sacrifice in order 70
establish an elderly persons
eligibility for assistance.
"a further indication of the
liberal provisions of the law is
the fact that the amount of real
property a recipient may own Is
increased from $4,000 to $4,000"
he sad, land that the lien is
against only real property and is
not concerned with personal pro-
perty or securities"
Mr.. Finke made it plain that it
is essential that the county agen-
cies exercise sound discretion in
each case. He said the state di-
vision will counsel and cooperate
with county agencies.
Mr.. Finke also said that the
amount of the lien will include
only such sums as the recipient
receives after January l, 1910 but
all money that heirs may have
spent on improvements and taxes,
even though such sums were
spent prior to January l, 1910,
constitute a claim op the estate
having priority to the amount of
the lien.
Attending the conference with
MIR. Finke is William c. Grove,
head of the division of public as
sistance.
Every WPA case must be re-
investigated each six months, well
fare workers learned. If need for
the federal work is not found,
enrolleeS will be cut off.
Approximately 200 Redwood
county cases will be reinvestigat-
ed before January under the
new ruling, Jean Tucker, execu-
tive secretary Of the welfare