Montana labor news., 1945-02-08
SOCIAL SECURITY
DURING AND
AFTER THE WAR
CONTINUED on Page Three
Public Assistance


Public Assistance
Major recommendations in public as
sistanoe deal with the scope and basis
Of federal matching of assistance funds
provided by the states and their locali-
ties. The board recommends that fed
eraI grants be provided for geenral as
sigtance. as well as for the three special
types OF assistance, and that the present
eaual-matching provisions be modified
to permit special federal aid to states
with comparatively small economic re-
sources in relation to their assistance
needs. Similarly, states should allocate
federal and state funds to localities so
as to assure equitable treatment of
needy individuals in all parts Of the
state. It is also recommended that fed
eral matching maximums for individual
payments be removed for aid to depend
ent children and increased for old-age
assistance and aid to the blind and that
federal funds be made available to share
part of the cost of medical services and
supplies provided by medical agencies
and practitioners to assistance recipl-
ents Aid to dependent children should
be broadened to provide for any needy
child who is living in family home,
rather than only for children who have
been deprived of parental support or
care by the parents death, absence, Or
incapacity.
The board points out that many states
have residence, citizenship, or other re-
ouirements for eligibility for assistance
that prevent them from taking full ad-
vantage of the present matching proVl-
sions of the federal act Especially II
federal financial participation is eX-
tended to additional areas of need and
Is increased to form a larger part ol
the total in low-income states these re-
strictions should be removed so that
aid will be available to all needy per-
sons. Effectiveness and economy would
also be served, the board believes, by
unifying administration Of the three
special types Of assistance and general
assistance at both state and local Levels
The board considers it Of great i'm
portance that public assistance become
better equipped to play its part in the
transition to peace, when shifts IN In
dustry and in the labor force and large
scale movement of population will beal
heavily on many low-income families
During even the war years, lack O
sufficient funds for assistance in SOM
states and federal and state restriction
on assistance programs have BARRE
some needy groups from any access II
nublic aid and have kept assistance pay
ments in many places below the level
determined by the state as necessary D
meet the recipients need
Disability and Medical Costs
In this as in earlier annual report
the board points out that the losses an
costs arising from sickness and disabilt
oontitute. except in periods of widesprea
unemployment, the most importai
cause Of poverty and dependency in tn
United States. In death rates and
life expectancy at many ages, espi
niauv the working asks, the Untte'
states has not yet achieved for its pee
ple an average security Of life as great
that in some other nations with mue
smaller economic resources. In an ORD
nary year, sickness and disability cau'
a loss of some S3-4 billion in earning
Expenditures for civilian health al
medical services, including hospital col
struction, total some S4 billion a yea
of which about four-fifths comes fro
private funds Nevertheless, many fan
,lies do not get needed care becau
they cannot pay the COSTS ana 70 MAI
others these costs represent a hea'
drain on family income.
The board recommends, in brief, thi
federal old-age and survivors insurani
be extended to provide cash benefit