Old-Age Pensions Administration of Old-Age Pensions Report of Committee on Old-Age Pensions, by HARRY R. McLOGAN, Chairman According to a report, as of June 30, 1936, issued by the Social Security Board, the following States' old-age assistance laws have been approved: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The States whose old-age assistance laws were not shown as approved by the report of June 30, 1936, are as follows: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alaska, and Hawaii. Mandatory or Optional In every State that has passed an old-age assistance law, the legislature has made it mandatory to grant old-age assistance except in six States; to wit, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and the District of Columbia, which leave the old-age-assistance grant optional with the authorities. Age Requirement The age requirement in every State examined is 65, except in Arizona, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Oregon, where it is 70 years, and in North Dakota where it is 68 years. In Florida the age requirement is 65, and in addition infirm persons regardless of age and those legitimately dependent upon recipients who likewise may be unable to care for themselves, but those persons under the age limit are not to receive Federal funds. In Oklahoma the age requirement is for males 60 years and for females 65 years and it further provides that applicants who are 65 years of age and qualify under the Federal act should be given preference. In the Territory of Alaska the age for men is 65 years and for women 60 years. 51 Citizenship All States require applicants to be United States citizens except Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, and Utah, in which the applicant is required to be a United States citizen for 15 years, Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, and Nebraska have no provision for residence or citizenship. The Colorado law provides for United States citizenship, and if Federal aid is granted the requirement may be altered to conform. The Rhode Island law provides that applicant must be a United States citizen or have resided in the United States continuously for 20 years. The Minnesota law provides that applicant must be a United States citizen or have resided in the United States continuously for 25 years. The Ohio law provides that applicant must be a citizen of the United States for 15 years immediately preceding application. The Wisconsin law provides that applicant must be a citizen of the United States or born in the United States. The Oregon law provides that the applicant must be a United States citizen, but that native-born American women married to aliens prior to September 22, 1922, are eligible. The Massachusetts law limits aid to deserving citizens. Residence In 21 States California, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Hawaii, and West Virginiathe law provides that the applicant must have resided in the State 5 years out of the last 9 years preceding the application, 1 year of which must have been immediately preceding the filing of application. The following States have a slightly more liberal residence requirement: Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming, and Washington, where the law provides that the applicant must have resided 5 years out of the last 10 years immediately preceding the application, and in Nebraska, where the law provides for residence in the State 5 years out of the 9 years immediately preceding application, 1 year of which must have been continuous preceding the application, or residence in the State for 25 consecutive years at any time and for 1 year preceding application. The following States have a law restricting residence requirements as follows: Arizona, 35 years' residence next preceding application; Arkansas, 5 years' residence next preceding application; Colorado, 15 years' State residence and a citizen of county 1 year; Delaware, residence in United States for 15 years and in the State of Delaware not less than 5 years; Idaho, residence in the State 10 years immediately preceding application or 15 years' residence in the State, 5 of which have immediately preceded application, and county residence of 3 years immediately preceding application; Illinois, residence in State 10 years within the 15 years immediately pre teding application, with 1 year continuous residence in county immediately preceding application; Indiana, continuous residence in the State and county for 15 years; Maine, 15 years' continuous residence in the State preceding application and 1 year in the city or town; Nevada, actual residence in State of 10 years next preceding application; North Dakota, 20 years immediately preceding application; Utah, residence in State 15 years last past or in State and county continuously for 5 years last past; Alaska, 25 years continuously immediately preceding granting of allowance. The State of Montana seems to have the most liberal residence requirement, which is 5 years within 10 years immediately preceding application. If applicant has not resided in the county 1 year preceding application, the pension is paid entirely out of State funds. Social Conditions The social conditions, as set forth in the old-age-assistance laws of the different States, are as numerous as they are different among the States. Following are set forth 32 different provisions, with the names of the States where the law contains such provisions: 1. Applicant must not have been during the last 10 years' imprisoned for a felony: Alabama. 2. Applicant must not be an inmate of a public institution: Alabama. Kentucky. North Dakota. 3. Applicant is not at the time of application an inmate of a prison, jail, insane asylum, or other public reform or correctional institution: 4. Applicant must not have been during the past 10 years an inmate of any prison, jail, or any other reform or correctional institution: 5. Applicant, if husband, has not for 6 months or more deserted his wife. 6. Applicant, if husband, has not without just cause failed to support his wife or children under 16 years of age: 7. Applicant, if wife, has not for 6 months or more deserted her husband: 8. Applicant, if wife, has not without just cause failed to support such children under 16 years of age whom she was legally bound to 9. Applicant must not be an inmate of any public institution: Arizona. 10. Applicant must receive no other form of relief from State except hospital, medical, and surgical expenses: 11. Applicant must not be receiving any other pension either State or Federal, except Confederate or blind pensions: Arkansas. 12. Applicant is not, while receiving aid, an inmate of any public or private institution of a custodial, correctional, or curative character: California. Maryland. Texas. 13. Subsequent to receiving aid, a recipient may enter a private home or institution of his own choosing and receive aid if such home or institution is approved by the director of public welfare: Rhode Island. 14. Applicant has no person able or responsible under law for his support: 15. Applicant is not without adequate means of support: North Dakota. 16. Applicant is not receiving aid from any charitable institution maintained by State or private subscription: 18. Applicant is not on probation from any court: Connecticut. 19. Applicant has paid "old-age pension" taxes for the full extent of his obligation: Connecticut. 20. Applicant has not been a tramp or beggar: 21. Applicant must not because of physical condition be in need of continuous institutional care: 22. Applicant must not have purchased life care in a private, charitable, fraternal or benevolent home, or hospital or institution: |