Evening star., 1947-08-07
.WeIfareBoard
1oReduceLists,
NotCut Grants
Less Needy Cases
Will Be Dropped;
Special Diets Halted

Special Diets Halted
The Board of Public Welfare, in
order to stay within its appropria-
ton, will drop some of the less needy
cases on public assistance rolls,
rather than make a general per-
centage cut in all grants of money.
In addition, the board decided at
a special meeting yesterday to stop
granting money for special diets
needed by those on relief and to
stop paying relief money to persons
In the interval between loss of their
JOBS and placement on Federal un-
employment rolls. Special diets cost
the board about $4,000 a year, it was
explained, and the unemployment
grants total about $4,000 year.
One of the most drastic changes
adopted as the result of a poll Of
board members today was a provi-
sion which would make ineligible
for public assistance any person
whose relatives are known to be
earning a living in the District but
refuse to provide information as to
| income.
Cuts to Total S272,530.
The overall cut in grants to needy
will amount to S272 $50 for the fiscal
year, Ray L. Huff, director of the
Department of Public Welfare, told
the board. The board, in its original
estimate to the Commissioners,
asked for $2,803,500 for the fiscal
year and last January revised its
estimate to $3,O17,120. Congress,
however, appropriated only 81 1874, ,470
for public assistance.
The board also voted to make any
reductions in the administrative
forces possible, but said there would
not be heavy reduction.
Raymond F. Clapp, principal as
sistant to the director, said it was
tragedy that the board was forced
to cut needy persons off the rolls.
The mandate Of Congress was clear.
he said, and there was nothing else
the board could do.
The decision of the board closely
followed criticism by Representative
Horan, Republican, of Washington,
who was in charge of the District
appropriation bill in the House, that
there were many persons on relief
rolls here who had no business
there.
Carries Insurance on Some.
1t was brought out at the hearing
that the Welfare, Department is
carrying total Of $3.50, 900 insurance
on some persons on relief rolls,
principally blind and aged persons,
whom it is assumed will stay on re-
lief rolls permanently. 1t would not
be wise to discontinue paying the
premiums on this insurance, the
board decided, and agreed to con-
tinue them.
| AS possible alternative to a
fiat percentage cut in grants the
Public Assistance Division Of ths
department recommended the fol-
lowing changes governing assistance,
which were adopted by the board:
l. Assistance shall be discontinued
in cases Of persons living alone
where the deficit is less than $40
and in the cases of families where
the deficit is less than $40.
2. Assistance shall not be granted
in those cases in which one appli-
cant or recipient 18 years Of age or
over shares home with a self
sustaining spouse, parent, child or
grandchild without other depen-
dents.
Restrictions on Rent.
8. Rent shall not. be allowed in
those cases in which the applicant
or recipient lives with self-sus-
tanning relative.
4. An applicant for aid to de-
pendent children claiming need be.
cause Of the absence of the father
from the home, shall, before she
Is found eligible for assistance, pre-
sent satisfactory factual informa-
ton concerning the current ad-
dress Of the father of the children
or efforts made to secure this in
formation and efforts made to OBJ.
tain support from this resource.
5. In active family cases in which
the basis for assistance is continued
absence Of the father from the
home, If there is reason to believe
that the father or other adult lives
in or may be contributing to the
support Of the home, assistance
shall be discontinued until infor-
nation is supplied to the agency to
enable it to determine the facts in
the case.
6. Ability to work shall be con-
sidered resource, and assistance
shall not be granted to persons who
are physically, mentally and emo
tionally able to work. Ability to
work shall not be considered a
resource for persons under l6 or
over IS years Of age, or who are
attending school, or for mothers
who have one or more children
when satisfactory provision cannot
be made for their care.
Need Doctors Statement.
Inability to work shall be deter
mined by statement from physi-
clan, hospital or clinic Official. II
such statement cannot be OBJ
tanned, for cause believed reason-
able by the social worker and super
visor, unemployability may be de-
termined on the basis of state
ment of the Civil Service Commits
sion or former employer.
Manuel kaufman, executive di-
rector of the Jewish Social Service,
told the board that as soon as the
proposed changes go into effect,
private agencies will be called upon
by needy persons for help.
Fred S. Kogod, vice president Of