Show Public Assistance Rates Climbing in U Utah M Public assistance recipient rates have been rising in Utah during recent years and now are nearly third one above their 1962 low This fact was reported in a study of welfare trends in Utah and the tM nation prepared by Utah Foundation the private re research research research re- re search organization According to the report the proportion of total population receiving public welfare in Utah has risen fro from slightly under 30 in 1952 1962 to 39 in 1969 1953 This recent upsurge in the welfare welfare wel wel- fare recipient rate followed a general decline throughout most of the 1940 and 1950 decades Foundation analysts point out that the recent rise in Utah's welfare recipient rate is followIng following following follow follow- ing a national pattern In fact fad the study points out that the increases in Utah are far less than those experienced nation nation- ally If Utah had followed national na national na na- welfare trends over the past two decades the state would be spending an additional million each year for public assistance On the basis of present state Federal-state participation participation par par- participation ratios this would in involve involve involve in- in volve an added million in state funds which would be equivalent to a 75 mill boost in the state property tax levy The report mentions the fol following following fol fol- lowing factors contributing ing to the rising welfare trend in Utah and the United States 1 Technological changes have redu reduced ed job opportunities for many unskilled individuals 2 Unskilled and poorly educated educated educated edu edu- persons migrating from the South and fro from rural areas to urban centers have added to the welfare problem 3 Higher welfare payments have reduced the incentive for many individuals to get off the public assistance rolls o 4 Mod Modern rn social problems resulting in in increased divorce separation desertion d and illegitimacy illegitimacy illegitimacy ille ille- rates have contrIb contributed ed to the growth in th the w welfare rolls rons 5 5 Fed sponsored Federally and private groups have hue actively recruited marginal individuals to seek pUb public ic assistance 6 A liberalization of eligibility eligi eligi- requirements has permit permit- ted additional persons to obtain public assistance 7 A A. proliferation of new programs designed to assist needy individuals has resulted in some overlapping and cation The Utah Foundation report mentions that in addition to the increase in public assistance there has been beena a shifting of costs to social Insurance programs such as Federal old old- age survivors disability and health insurance Social Security Security Security ity Since the end of World War II expenditures for all public social welfare purposes in the United States excluding I education have multiplied more than ten tim times s. s At the present time the taxes to finance I these social welfare programs are to approximately per employed employed employed em em- person in th the civilian labor force |