It has been assumed that in 1956, the average monthly payment will be $55.72. AID TO THE PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED Assistance payments from Federal, State, and local funds in the 43 jurisdictions that are expected to have approved plans in both 1955 and 1956 are estimated at $160,400,000 of which the Federal Government will contribute $82,500,000 or 51.4 percent. The Federal share represents an increase of $7,800,000 over the amount estimated for 1955. The average number of recipients of aid to the permanently and totally disabled is estimated at 250,400 with an average monthly assistance payment of $53.39. Increase in number of recipients.-The estimated average number of recipients in 1956 is 11.3 percent more than is estimated for 1955 under the 43 programs that will be in operation in that year. For the past 4 years the increase in number of recipients has been as follows: It is believed that the upward trend will continue and that the number of recipients in 1956 will be 250,400 under the 43 programs that were already in operation in the fiscal year 1955. Decrease in average monthly payment.-The trend in average monthly payments under this program has been influenced by the approval of new State plans with varying average monthly payments and numbers of recipients. Part of the increase between December 1951 and December 1952 reflects the effect of the 1952 amendments. The change in average payment has been as follows: It has been assumed that the average monthly payment will decrease in 1956 and will be $53.39. State and local administration The total amount to be expended for State and local administration of the 4 assistance programs is estimated at $177,900,000 of which the Federal Government will contribute about one-half under each program. The Federal share is estimated at $88 million for 1956, $500,000 more than in the preceding fiscal year. This increase is estimated because it is believed that (1) salary increases will be required in some States if public assistance agencies are to recruit and retain adequate staffs, and (2) some agencies with high caseloads per visitor will reduce caseloads rather than lay off staff as the number of recipients of OAA and ADC declines. About 85 percent of the administrative expense is for salaries of staff in State and local public assistance agencies. A study made in 1950 showed that among personnel in all social work positions in all public and private agencies, those employed by public assistance agencies were among the lowest paid. The median annual salary for visitors, those who deal directly with recipients, was only $2,569. Though most agencies have granted increases since that time, salaries generally are low. On the other hand, workloads per visitor in many State agencies are high. As the number of recipients declines, State agencies are attempting to reduce workloads per visitor so that they may do more to assist recipients to make the maximum use of personal, family, and community PUBLIC ASSISTANCE resources. Estimates of Federal, State, and local expenditures for assistance payments and administration, and the Federal share thereof, fiscal years 1955 and 1956 TOTAL AMOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 1 The Federal share includes: $1,190,691,652 from the regular appropriation of $1,200 million ($9,307,748 was used to cover some of the 1954 expenditures and $600 in travel under sec. 1314, Public Law 207); $238 million from the supplemental request; and $15,808,348 from collections and adjustments estimated to be received by the States during the year. 2 The Federal share includes: $1,400 million, the appropriation request, and $15,500,000 from collections and adjustments estimated to be received by the States during the year. Estimated obligations for grants to States for fiscal year 1955 13, 989,000 31, 603, 000 669, 000 3,378, 000 38, 766, 000 12, 634, 000 16, 115, 000 17, 119, 000 48, 700,000 4,816, 000 3,760,000 36,856, 000 28, 704, 000 19, 231, 000 17, 168, 000 53, 074, 000 3,690,000 6,890,000 1, 117, 000 2,488,000 7,968, 000 4,500,000 44,024, 000 14, 638, 000 3,071, 000 39, 142, 000 37, 684, 000 8, 117, 000 20, 836, 000 1,700,000 3, 202, 000 12, 369, 000 3,970, 000 21, 224, 000 73, 970, 000 3,725,000 2,407,000 97,000 4,752, 000 $7,392,000 742,000 3. 627,000 3,905,000 41, 878,000 4,521,000 3, 379,000 682, 000 1,981, 000 11, 105, 000 8,912, 000 2,407,000 1, 403, 000 17, 197, 000 6, 110, 000 4,758,000 3, 151, 000 11,092, 000 11, 369, 000 3,049, 000 4,750,000 9, 624, 000 13, 655, 000 5, 521, 000 4,288,000 13, 225, 000 1, 646, 000 1,848, 000 793, 000 4, 000, 000 4,725, 000 42, 392, 000. 10, 840, 000 1, 120, 000 10,889, 000 9,844, 000 2,697, 000 21, 539, 000 1,828, 000 2, 403, 000 3,666, 000 1,994,000 14, 184, 000 13, 514, 000 2,354, 000 727, 000 41,000 $397.000 656,000 5, 369,000 145,000 135,000 98,000 595,000 64, 000 1, 443, 000 9, 521, 000 21, 315, 000 10,956, 000 1, 425, 000 $2,382,000 $28, 281, 000 25,000 310,000 1, 117, 000 161, 247, 000 2,060, 000 26,755, 000 105, 000 914, 000 1, 169, 000 1, 183, 000 44, 000 80,000 1, 589, 000 701, 000 610,000 269,000 908,000 762, 000 2,931, 000 499,000 373, 000 2,694, 000 1,370,000 4, 592,000 1,715, 000 4, 438,000 857,000 207, 000 775,000 6, 413, 000 632, 000 74, 061, 000 6, 168, 000 9,044, 000 1, 161, 000 3, 481, 000 13, 604, 000 10, 088, 000 107, 295, 000 3, 290, 000 1,993, 000 30, 515, 000 4, 581, 000 54, 901, 000 50, 397, 000 Vermont 159, 000 433, 000 337, 000 376,000 485, 000 29,000 1,564, 000 2,462,000 2,527, 000 33, 411, 000 22, 996, 000 500,000 195, 652 22, 721, 000 2,272,652 Estimated obligations for grants to States for fiscal year 1955. - Total obligations against appropriation.. Amount obligated in June 1954 for grants chargeable to appropriation for 1955. Obligations to be incurred during 1955. $1,428, 691, 652 +9, 307, 748 +-600 1, 438, 000, 000 -336, 338, 253 +350, 000, 000 1, 451, 661, 747 NOTE.-Distribution by State estimated on basis of percentage distribution by State of total obligations for each program during first quarter of fiscal year 1955. Estimated obligations for grants to States for fiscal year 1956 Total disabled $17,565,000 $7, 199, 000 723,000 5,415,000 15, 166, 000 110,567, 000 19, 424,000 6,637,000 564,000 1, 114, 000 3,533,000 3,804,000 40,789,000 4,404, 000 3,290,000 665,000 1,929, 000 10,817,000 8, 680,000 $399,000 $2,644,000 659,000 1,239,000 5,391,000 145,000 2,287,000 136,000 661,000 2,344,000 1,366,000 44,000 554,000 414,000 Georgia Hawaii 47, 233, 000 4,670,000 3,646,000 35, 736,000 27,830,000 18,641,000 16, 651,000 51,476,000 3,577,000 6, 679,000 1,083,000 2, 412,000 7,722, 000 4,365,000 42, 684, 000 14, 197,000 2,978, 000 37, 938,000 36, 548,000 7,872,000 20, 196,000 1,700,000 3, 105,000 11, 997, 000 3,848,000 20, 584,000 71,688,000 3,611,000 2,333,000 97,000 4,608,000 13, 299, 000 773,000 3,896, 000 4,602, 000 41, 289, 000 10, 558, 000 1,091, 000 10, 606, 000 9,589,000 2,627,000 20,975,000 1,828,000 2,340,000 3,571,000 1,942, 000 13,815,000 13, 114, 000 2,293,000 708,000 982, 000 1,354,000 201, 000 308,000 44,000 116,000 380,000 172,000 56,000 563,000 76,000 860,000 7, 118, 000 701,000 94,000 1,401, 000 768,000 20,930,000 3,660, 000 382, 000 3,652, 000 2,212,000 1, 450, 000 5, 520, 000 666, 000 631,000 $27,807, 000 1,403,000 9, 259,000 20,868,000 156,747,000 26, 260,000 10, 724, 000 1,399,000 4, 162, 000 36, 504,000 43, 772, 000 3,591,000 5,137,000 58,925,000 18, 900, 000 20,868, 000 18,427,000 28,319,000 64, 168, 000 7,864, 000 10, 359, 000 50, 806, 000 42, 806, 000 24, 777, 000 22, 670,000 72,829,000 6,082, 000 8,787,000 1, 127, 000 3,395,000 13, 399,000 9,907,000 107, 010, 000 30, 162, 000 4, 498, 000 53,782,000 49, 228, 000 12, 103, 000 50, 431, 000 4,250,000 6, 155, 000 18,630,000 6, 135, 000 2, 499,000 269,000 41,000 5,000 16,000 23, 497,000 6, 220, 000 338,000 2,733,000 6,996, 000 12, 545, 000 378,000 2,805,000 15, 460,000 1,599,000 389,000 29.000 Wisconsin... Wyoming... Total..... Estimated obligations for grants to States for fiscal year 1956. Obligations to be incurred during 1956...... 555, 000 6,841, 000 3,281,000 159,000 12, 104, 000 32,788,000 22,724,000 22, 136, 000 2,233,000 1,400, 000, 000 $1,400,000,000 -350, 000, 000 +350, 000, 000 1, 400, 000, 000 NOTE.-Distribution by State estimated on basis of percentage distribution by State of total obligation for each program during first quarter of fiscal year 1955. GENERAL STATEMEMT Mr. RONEY. First, relating to our appropriations for the grants to the States for public assistance, that request is $1,400,000,000. Senator HILL. This money is for your grants for what we call the old-age pensions, aid to blind, aid to permanently and totally disabled, and so on? Mr. RONEY. That is right. This estimate we have, of $1.4 billion, is $38 million less than in the 1955 regular appropriation; that is, $38 million less than that requested for 1955, including the regular appropriation and a proposed supplemental of $238 million, which has been granted. The decrease in the estimate is based on an estimated decline in the number of recipients for old-age assistance and aid to dependent children and a drop in the average monthly payments. It takes into account the continued effects of the liberalization of benefits and the extension of coverage authorized under the recent amendments to the old-age and survivors insurance program. Senator POTTER. And that should constantly decline, should it not? Mr. RONEY. Yes. Senator POTTER. The persons eligible for old-age assistance, more of them, are being covered now under old-age and survivors benefits? Mr. RONEY. That is right. Senator HILL. I was here when we passed the Social Security Act, and the truth is that is has not declined as much as we had hoped for. Is that not correct? Mr. RONEY. That is right. Senator HILL. We hoped for a much more definite decline. Mr. RONEY. That is correct. Some things have happened, such as inflation, for instance. Senator POTTER. Are we talking of a decline in the number of recipients, or dollarwise? Mr. RONEY. Both. A decline in the number of recipients, and then more of the help that is necessary will become supplemental; those whose old-age and survivors insurance will not cover, for instance, medical expense in those States that allow that kind of care. On the salaries and expenses-Or do you have further questions on the grant requests? Senator POTTER. No. The only thing is that I assume that the States are building up their programs. They are becoming more liberal in their grants for old-age assistance and aid to dependent children. And that, in itself, brings up your contribution, the Federal contribution. Am I correct? Mr. RONEY. Well, up to a point. But there is a limit on the Federal participation. Senator POTTER. How many States receive the limit? Mrs. WEST. Very few States would receive the limit, because, you see, the amounts are geared to individual need, and even though they may have very high payments, there would be some that would not get the full $35 that would be allowed. Some come closer to the $35 than others. Senator POTTER. When I went to college, I was a wage administrator in Michigan, so I am very interested in this program. Mr. RONEY. You know what we are speaking of, then. SALARIES AND EXPENSES, BUREAU OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE Salaries and expenses, Bureau of Public Assistance: For expenses necessary for the Bureau of Public Assistance, [$1,487,500] $1,595,000. 62284-55-42 |