the minimum standards for health and decency. 7. Retain Medical standards and provisions as originally provided in Page 10 GUARANTEED ~ ADEQUATE INCOME and decency at the time they come (computations), is Title 19 of the Social Security Act. 8. Make welfare payments retroactive to the date of application. 9. Make the declaration methods universal to all categories. 10. Permit recipients access to their own case records. 11. Provide special grants for legal services for appeals and for conduct of fair hearings. 12. Provide important for for participation of WRO’s in rule making, enforcement of regulations at Federal, state and local levels. Reprinted with permission of: National Welfare Rights Organization Publication, 1419 H under the program. Replacement two reasons: ae costs would be provided in case of BLS assumed in establishing the fire, flood, or substantial change in budget that the family had been Marie Darling circumstance. established for fifteen (15) years A recipient should have the right and had accumulated stock of St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, Tel. (202) 347-7727. NWRO is launching a nationwide to choose between a flat grant or an clothing and furniture. The budget Local office: Utah WRO, 4595 itemized assessment of his needs, was intended only to _ cover campaign for a GUARANTEED West 4985 South, Kearns, Utah ADEQUATE INCOME for every taking into account actual cost of replacements. This assumption does 84118, Telephone (801) 299-7017. American citizen. NWRO is housing, transportation, clothing, not apply to the average family in poverty. Thus, special grants for and other special requirements he challenging the country to change ‘I’ve got four out of school because its priorities from an emphasis on might have. This would be similar wardrobe and furnishings to bring © they didn’t have shoes and clothes.” death and destruction to an to the income tax system where an persons up to minimum standards for health and decency. ’ emphasis on life and peace. We individual may either itemize his The budget is based on statistical believe that every man, woman, and deduction, depending on which child has the right to live. We call method of benefits suits him more. averaging formulas which do not The so-called “poverty line” is necessarily apply to real people of upon our country to begin subsidizing life! not an adequate income budget, real situations. For example, an The Bureau of Labor Statistics of but a level below which everyone is individual family of four may or the U.S. Department of Labor says desperately poor. It is based upon may not be able to obtain adequate that a family of four needs at least, the U.S. Department of housing in good condition at $92 a_ $5500 a year for the basic Agriculture’s “economy food plan” month rent that the budget allows, Salt Lake City was chosen as one National Alliance of Businessmen. necessities of life, not counting on which it is only possible to even if that happens to he the of 125 JOB areas during the second State: Local National Alliance medical care. We call upon the survive with adequate nutrition for average for the city in which he year of operations. The target goal of Businessmen. Federal Government to guarantee “short emergency periods of time” lives. for the first year of operation is to Similar arguments can be applied locate every American this minimum and only under very _ special 750 disadvantaged Services Provided income. | circumstances, (Poverty Line to transportation costs, where the individuals in employment in the This income _ should be income is $3335 for a family of transportation quantity for school Salt Lake Metropolitan Area. In our Immediate job placement automatically adjusted for four). The so-called “low income children in the BLS budget was less State we now have a complete staff Jobs—Job Opportunities in the Business Sector variations in the size of family, costs of living in various parts of the country, and changes _ in cost-of-living as they occur. Eligibility should be based solely than the number of days in the USDA's “low-cost food plan.” It school year! This is because it was sets an income of approximately an average among children who $4400 a year for a family of four. rode to school and those who Government surveys show however, walked. It can be assumed that that only 23% of the families with some, families would be over in one poverty line”, on need and should be based on a person’s declaration of what his food budgets needs are, with spot checks as is low-cost food done under our income tax system. The system should provide a work incentive by permitting recipients to keep 50% of earned ‘income, up to 25% of their grant level. Recipients should be entitled to a fair hearing prior to the termination or reduction of benefits. The hearing should take place within fifteen (15) days of the application for appeal. Special grants should be provided for recipients to obtain lawyers or other advocates. The regulations pertaining to rights and entitlements under this system should information. should be be _ public Simplified distributed versions to every recipient and potential recipient. Persons eligible for these benefits should be entitled to free medical care, legal services, and day care facilities of a high quality in the neighborhoods where they live. Other services to the recipients should be on a_ completely voluntary basis, administered by agencies separate from those administering the guaranteed income payments. Example of these are family planning, homemaker services, family counseling, child welfare, etc. Special grants should be available to take care of all special or unusual situations. These would include grants for clothing and furniture to bring the recipients household up to minimum standards of health is based equivalent on to the the category plan actually~have nutritionally adequate diets. The NWRO adequate income budget therefore uses the USDA “moderate food plan” which would insure the average family | an adequate diet. NWRO contends that providing an adequate income is the only sure way to combating These and under statistical in another. differences may not always average out in any given family. If a family has greater need in a number of categories, they should have the option of itemizing their family budget, and applying for a grant that meets the actual needs that they have. participation hunger in America. in most in training and supportive services. The adjusted budget excludes the basic costs of hospital and doctors care since it is assumed that free medical care would be available through national health insurance or Medicare or some other program. It should also be noted that this budget includes no money for cigarettes (regarded by BLS as a health hazard), non prescription drugs or medical supplies, out-of-town travel, long-distance telephone calls, dry cleaning, or use of a laundromat. : The budget is based on statistical averages and is subject to 10% to 20% per variations depending on the locality. The range runs from $5209 working on job solicitation activities. Two basic committees have been formed: The Business Advisory Committee and _ the Interagency Resources Committee. Employment Security is assisting in the operation of JOBS. JOBS aims at the involvement of private businesses in the hiring, training, and retention of disadvantaged workers. The objective is to HIRE FIRST and train on the job. This provides workers with the incentive of a guaranteed job to encourage non-metropolitan areas to $6649 for Honolulu. The budget for several cities are estimated inflation causing a 9.4% increase in the cost of living since BLS computed the cost of living in 1967. The NWRO budget has been updated to Spring 1969 prices. The importance of continued recognition of special needs and of providing alternate ways of meeting needs, either through the adequate income (flat grant) or through individual considerations Authorizing Legislation WELFARE The Much has been said and written of the inadequacies of our present welfare system. As we press toward a guaranteed adequate income much can be done to improve the welfare system NOW! The following should be implemented immediately. 1. Repeal the compulsory work JOBS Program was 6. The Federal Government should require states to provide special grants for clothing, household furnishing, other basic needs to insure that recipients have by remedial and vocational training, and a variety of supportive services. Director J.P. Building, O'Keefe, Salt Lake 84111. Phone: ‘Kennecott City, Utah (801) 322-1533. Comments JOBS is a program sponsored by the. National Alliance of Businessmen and is now underway in Utah. The federal government is the only funding agent and the figures for federal money comes from the 70-2 Issuance of the CAMPS Committee. The 1,400 slots represent goals of the JOBS Program to place 750 people in full announced by President Johnson in time work and 650 youth in a January, 1968 Manpower Message summer jobs. The local program to Congress. It is based on statutory people feel that the 650 figure is authority already existing under unreasonable and although they did MDTA and the Economic have a summer program that has Opportunity Act. just been completed, it had no where near 650 people. There are Operating Procedures four full time staff members now provisions of the Work Incentive The National Alliance of Program. Businessmen (NAB) is a non-profit 2. Repeal the Federal freeze on Organization which is incorporated AFDC payments. and in_ partnership with the 3. Repeal the 1967 restrictions government; it is not, however, a on the AFD-IP program and make governmental agency. It is usually AFDC-UP mandatory on all states. comprised of volunteer on-loan 4. The principal costs of welfare executives on a full time basis. The should be borne by the Federal Manpower Administration writes Government. contracts (MA-5) with individual 9. The Federal Government companies who. desire federal should set standards of eligibility assistance in meeting the extra costs using financial need as the basic of hiring and training the requirement. followed disadvantaged. Sponsorship Federal: Department of Labor Manpower Administration and and on they are planning on bringing board one member. people staff. more full time staff In addition to these five there are Leadership two in part the Program is provided committee of nationally time JOBS by a known organized as_ the Alliance of Businessmen businessmen National (NAB). NAB_ representatives contact employers seeking pledges to hire disadvantaged persons. After making a pledge, the employer is contacted by a representative of the State Employment Service seeking job orders. A good response from local industry is a strong indication of the good success this program might have in Salt Lake.