Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23
RELIEF
Continued From First Page

ability. does not itself entitle
persons to relief payments.
4. A high number of run
away-father cases. in which
families have been left de-
pendent on public help.
S. A slight increase in the
average size of relief families
s. A higher approval rate.
In December, IS per cent of
applications were approved.
compared to a previous max
imm rate of 40 per cent, Mr..
Shea said.
1857 Increases Set Records
Comparison of the current
case load with figures for the
past several years points up
the magnitude of the recent
increase.
In fiscal 1852 the assistance
rolls numbered an average of
1923 person. In 1853 the
number dropped to 1929. 1t
climbed in 1854 to 1896, and
in 1855 to 1927. but dropped
again in 1856 to 1929. The
fiscal 1857 average was 16,l08.
None of these changes APP
proaohes the increase in the
past year, however. The total
of individuals on the rolls in
December. 1856, was 1887.
The total on December 81.
1857. was l9,409.
The climb in expenditure in
the past year also was much
sleeper than in other recent
years. The greatest one-year
increase in any year since
1852, prior to last year, was
about 100000. Last years in
crease was about S1.260,000.
Expects Higher case Load
In terms of the number of
relief cases. some of them with
more than one individual. these
averages are cited: 6.996 in
fiscal 1852; 7.025 in 1858: 1916
in 1854: 1902 in 1855; $3.50 in
1856; 8,542 in 1857. In Deem
Der. 1856. there were 8.455
cases. On December 81, 1857,
the total was 1888.
Mr.. Shea said he anticipates
a continued case rise this year.
The recent trend has outpaced
departmental estimates. he ad-
mitted.
The Welfare Department mas
S9.539,182 budgeted for as
sistance payments for the cul-
rent fiscal year. % per cent
more than last year. For the
new fiscal year beginning in
July. S10,645,443 is being asked.
But this figure represents
only an lll2 per cent increase
over the current budget, and it
provides for an increase of only
$50 cases. while cases jumped
more than 1000 in the last
calendar year. Thus. a con-
tinuation of the rapid rise
would catch the budget short.
Such a situation would re-
quire the assistance division
either to obtain more funds or
cut back on relief grants. Of
flcials explained.
Financial Crisis Averted
Only the existence Of some
savings in the department has
averted a possible crisis in the
current budget. Mr.. Shea said.
1t is not likely there will be
enough such savings to fall
back on in the future. he added.
Increases in December, 1857.
as compared with December.
1856. in major relief categories
were:
Aid to dependent children.
the biggest category-Cases up
20 per cent, expenditures up 40
per cent.
Old-age assistance-Cases up
5 per cent, expenditures up II
per cent.
Aid to disabled-Cases up
neglibly. expenditure up II per
cent.
General aSsistance-Cases UP
IS per cent. expenditure up So
per cent.
Aid to the blind-Cases also
were more numerous.
Three-fourths Of the 2.844
families in the aid-to-depend-
ent children category received
help because of the absence Of
fathers, compared to a national
average of only around 81 per
cent. Mr.. Shea reported.
OF the 1900 receiving as
sistance in December, 1883
were children, he said.
The Federal Government con-
tributes more than half Of the