The Daily Alaska empire., 1942-10-01
NEW SYSTEM OF
 OLD ACE HELP IS
 INAUGURATED
Public Welfare Depart ment Announces Change
 in Assistance Application

The Alaska Department of Pub lie Welfare, Russell G. Maynard, Director, today announced the plac- ing in effect of new and simpli- fled system of making application i for Old Age Assistance, applications for increase, and providing for per liodic reinvestigations of grants made to recipients of Old Age As SiStance.
 The new system follows quite closely the manner in which appli cants for Old Age Assistance may receive grants, increases. and be reinvestigated periodically as that now used throughout the States.
 Simplified Application
 Heretofore, numerous forms were necessary which were both confus ing and inadequate in presenting the required information as to the circumstances surrounding the ap- plicant's needs. The new procedure is limited to three forms. The ap- plicant signs one as his formal ap plication.
 The second form is a report of investigation into his eligibility to receive Old Age Assistance and a budget of his needs The third form is report by physician, if one is available, describing the applicants physical condition, and is used in determining what his actual re- quirements of living will be, so that his grant may be properly estab- liShed.
 No Reference Letters No longer are four reference let ters required, nor must the appli- cant have his signature notarized. He merely signs a formal applica- tion which informs him under what conditions he may receive Old Age Assistance, and the agent of the Department of Public Welfare then makes an investigation into his liv- ing requirements and reports the facts to the Office of the Director, Juneau, Alaska, where determina- ton of the amount of the grant is made.
 Application for Increase
 Should a recipient believe that his grant is insufficient to make both ends meet" he merely notifies the agent of the Department verbally or in writing and reinvestigation of his needs is made, and reported to the Office of the Director, where :; determination of the circumstances | is made and the grant modified ac- cording to the facts presented. This procedure does away with the com- plicated system of additional forms and periods of waiting that have existed in the past.
 Reinstatement Provided The Department of Public Vel fare also announced that when re- cipients have secured employment at a liveable wage and are nc longer in need of Old Age. Assis- tance, they should notify the agent of the Department or the. Office oi the Director The grant will cease until such time as they become ir need again At that time the former recipient may present himself tt the agent, sign his formal applica. tion for reinstatement, and his pres. ent needs being properly investigat. ed and established, his grant may again commence on the basis O. his current requirements.
 The primary requirements O eligibility still exist, said MT. May. nard, Director of the Department and those are: that an applican must be a citizen of the United States, 65 years of age or over, ant must have resided in Alaska five years during the nine years imme. diately preceding the date of ap. plication.
 Proofs Established
 Agents of the Department assis in establishing proof of thesA re. quirements, and in the event that documentary proof of age and resi-. dence cannot be made, affidavits by two reputable persons who have