Texas Almanac, 1943-1944 Page: 223
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OLD-AGE PENSIONS.
Old-Age Assistance.
Tabulations below show the development of
old-age pensions in Texas since the beginning
of these payments in 1936. Texas has one
of the most liberal pension laws in the United
States, primarily as a result of an act of the
Forty-Seventh Legislature which became ef-
fective July 2, 1941, excluding consideration
of the ability of relatives to support an appli-
cant for pension. As a result of this provi-
stion, the number of eligibles for old-age
assistance increased rapidly and the state
monthly allocation of $1,750,000, as set by
Legislature, was inadequate to meet current
demand. The schedule of payments was
maintained during 1942 except the last two
months, however, by drawing upon available
balances. A report of the State Department
of Public Welfare which administers old-age
assistance (see page 216), stated that cutting
pension allocations would be necessary unless
the Forty-Eighth Legislature increased the
monthly allotment. As of May 3, immediately
prior to the publication of this volume, a bill
was pending in Legislature.
From December, 1936, to March, 1937, the
state paid full grants by borrowing $2,748,-
32450. In March and April of 1939 an addi-
tional $899,895 was borrowed. In 1937, $1,343,-
762 50 was paid on the total loan of $3,648,-
219 50. In 1938, $73,720.50 was repaid and the
rest of the debt was liquidated in monthly
installments from October, 1939, to Septem-
ber, 1940, inclusive.
The growth of *old-age assistance in Texas
is shown by the following figures from the
State Department of Public Welfare, giving
data for each July for the years 1936-1940,
inclusive, and for each month of the two
years, 1941 and 1942.
Number Amount Average
of Grants of Grants Grant
Authorized. Authorized Authorized
July, 1936.... 59,999 $949,055 S15 82
July, 1937.... 124,021 1,700,442 13 71
July, 1938.... 112,282 1,545.527 13 76
Jul, 1939 ... 117,904 1,669,301 14 16
July, 1940t... 119,113 1,979,721 16 62
1941.
January$ .... 122,059 2,187,987 17.93
February ... 122,496 2,211,787 18 06
Marcht .. 125,471 2.283.808 18 20
April; ...... 128.835 2 364.402 18 35
Mayt ....... 133,569 2.465 894 18 46
June ........ 139.307 2.577.801 18 503
Jul ....... 144,354 2.676,961 18 54
August ...... 148,505 2 764,062 18 61
September ... 150,944 2,825.039 18 72
October ..... 154,784 2,918,413 18 85
November ... 157,845 2,999,383 19 00o
December ...161,302 3.085,774 19 1
1942:
January ..... 163,910 3,152,002 19 2'3
February .... 166,079 3,206.966 19 31
March ...... 168,262 3,262,080 19 39
April ....... 169,905 3.307,770 19 47
May ........ 172,324 3,374.649 19 58
June ........ 174,918 3,448,520 19 72
July ........ 176,413 3,505,163 19 87
August ...... 177,822 3,571.721 20 09
September ... 178,942 3,635,440 20 32
October ... 180.290 3,708,610 20 57
Noxembert .. 181,554 3.783.876 20 84
December$ .. 182,483 3,842,297 21 06
*Data are effective the first of the month and
are not adjusted for cancellations, refunds, etc.
tThe grant authorized was $16 62 but the ac-
tual average payment was only $10 62
tIn January, February, March and April, 1941,
actual payments were $4 below grants, in May,
1941, they were $7 below, min November and
December, 1942, they were $1 belowAID TO NEEDY BLIND.
Beginning in October, 1941, the state, by
act of the Forty-Seventh Legislature, made
available appropriations for aid of the needy
blind at the rate of $400,000 a year. Applica-
tions were taken beginning Sept. 1. 1941.
Table below shows number of needy blind
recipients, obligations incurred and average
payment from the beginning of operation of
the program, Oct. 1. 1941. through December.
1942, as reported by the State Department of
Public Welfare
Number Total
of Obligations Average
Month- Cases Incurred.* Payment.1941.
Oct .......... 1,252
Nov. ........... 1,536
Dec ........... 1,818
1942:
Jan. ........... 2,186
Feb ........... 2,457
March ......... 2,675
April .......... 2,816
May ........... 2,999
June ........... 3,146
July ........... 3,295
Aug............ 3,449
Sept .......... 3,599
Oct. ........... 3,743
Nov .......... 3,879
Dec. ........... 4,000$29,199 $23 32
35,760 23 28
42,277 23 2550,646
56,559
61,365
64,650
68.661
72,111
75,703
79,344
82,754
86,329
89,643
92,75223 17
2302
22 94
2296
22 89
22.92
22 98
2300
22 99
2306
2311
2319The State Board of Public Welfare which
administers this fund advised early in 1943
that payments were being maintained by
dipping into available reserves and that addl-
tional appropriations by the Forty-Eighth
Legislature would be necessary to avoid re-
duction of this assistance program.
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
By constitutional amendment submitted by
the Forty-Fifth Legislature, Legislature may
appropriate a maximum of $1.500.000 annually
as aid to dependent children The amendment
was adopted but the Forty-Sixth Legislature
failed to make an appropriation The maxi-
mum of $1.500.000 a year for the blennium
Sept 1, 1941. to Sept. 1. 1943, was provided
by the Forty-Seventh Legislature The pro-
giam was initiated in September, 1941.
The following table shows the steady
growth of the Aid to Dependent Children iolln
and costsNumber Num
of of
Month- Families Childr
1941.
Oct .... 268 5
No% ..... 671 1 4
Dec ....1,368 2,8
1942
Jan ..... 2,729 5,7
Feb .... 4.546 9.6
March ... 7,371 15,7
April ... 9,643 20.6
May .... 12.629 26 7
June .....15.150 31,7
Jul .....17,442 36.2
Aug .....19,226 39,6
Sept ... 20.504 42,2
Oct .... 21,758 44.5
No% .... 22,501 45,94
Dec . 12,544 27,8
*Unadjusted for cancellaA erage
ber Total Payment
Obligations Per
'en Incurred Child
35 $486 S6 52
00 13,iS6 9 91
76 28.328 9 8553
81
76
50
73
801
40
80
63
52
45
9756.520
94.209
153 320
200,614
261.806
312,544
358,225
394,004
217,622
229.916
237.304
266.777tions, refunds, etc
Relative to the average payments per child
the State Department of Public Welfare made
the following statement.
The average grant was very nearly stabil-
ized from the beginning because the chil-FINSTNATIONAL BANK
MEMBER F.SD.I. C.M-
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Texas Almanac, 1943-1944, book, 1943; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117165/m1/225/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.