The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-31
PUBLIC WELFARE DEpARTF!ENy x
 YOUNG, ACTIVE
Relief of DestifutiCn, Old Age Assistance Are
 Among Duties

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 The Alaska Department ol Publlc Welfare, established in 1887 by the Territorial Legislature in eXtraor- dinarv session, is charged with su- pervising the administration of old age assistance, mothers allowance relief of destitution, has jurisdiction over all juveniles in the Territory and is responsible for certifying per sons for employment on Works Pro iects Administration projects.
 A Territorial Board of Public Vel fare. consisting of the Governor ol Alaska and four members appoint- ed by the Governor, one from each of the four Judicial Divisions, Is the governing agency of the depart ment. The administration Of wei fare activities, designated by law, is delegated by the Board to the Dl- rector of the Department ef Vel fare, who is appointed by the Board and is subject to the supervision ana direction of the Board.
 The main office of the Department of Welfare is in Juneau and local offices, under the Territorial otilce' are maintained ill necessary locales throughout the Territory 90 that persons in need may have an op- portunity to apply for assistance to the Department of Welfare through the local agent.
 Old Age Assistance
 Federal funds are available to Alaska for old age assistance under the public assistance section oi the Social Security Act. through a syS- tenn of grants in aid and under an approved plan between the Terri torial Department of Public Well fare and the Social Security Board, in accordance with certain specific regulations. Grants to an aged person are made on the basis of the circumstances reflected in his ap- plication and the amount allowed him is determined in accordance herewith. The maximum allow ance provided by law IS S45 per month. In view of the fact that allowances are made on the basis Of the individual need of the appl- cant, it is not possible for the De- partment of Public Welfare to iln- pose a standard allowance for recipient of old age assistance. Con- sequently, the amount cf allowance to the individual recipient varies in accordance with the need reflect ed in the application and the m- vestigation. If at any time the cir cumstances of the recipient change, the old age assistance grant IS re- evaluated and the grant increased or decreased as the need may be.
 On March l of this year, 1881 persons in the Territory of Alaska received old age assistance grants The average grant for the Terri tory is approximately $2802, which is the third highest average grant to aged persons in the United States and its Territories. Inquiries ano information relative to Alaska's Ole Age Assistance program should bt directed to the Department of Pub lie Welfare, Juneau, Alaska.
 Relief of DestitutiOn
 In accordance with the Terrl' torial law, the Department of Vel fare is responsible for the admins tration of relief of destitution 1T Alaska and under this division re- lief is granted to persons who arc ill or unemployed and whose cir cumstances are such that they can not provide necessities for them selves. This type of assistance i issued on the basis of written au- thorizations by the agents of tho Department of Public Welfare.
 The law provides that authori- cations may be written for food ClOIIllIlg, SutlJSI, luel, llShl aAiu Wa ter, hospitalization, medical cart and similar types of general as sistance. Over two-thirds of tht Relief of Destitution fund is ex. pended for disqualification, medica and burials. The Department O Welfare has expended large DOT ton of this amount for care of tu bercular patients. Since April, 1888 the beginning of the present bien nium, approximately l540 cases hav' been reported to the Department Q Welfare and each has received som type of assistance from the relic of destitution fund.