Show County Co nty Welfare Director Explains Agricultural Work Procedures to be followed in applying provisions of a new state law H. H B B. exempting income earned in agriculture from deduction from grants to recipients recipients recipients ot or old-age old assistance is outlined in Instructions received today at the Sum Sum- Summit Summit Summit mit County Welfare office J. J T. T Cun Con Cunningham Cunningham Conningham director reported The Instructions prepared and Issued by the Public Welfare Commission Include copies of ot II H. B. B and Public Law 45 45 the Federal act permitting recipients of old-age old as assistance as- as assistance to work as agricultural workers without having their grants discontinued or reduced because of such earnings In an opinion given to the tho Public Wel Wel- Welfare Welfare fare tare Commission the State Attorney General ruled It was undoubtedly the Intention of or the legislature to make mako our old ago assistance laws conform to Public Law 45 H. H B. B directs that the state de department de- de department of or public welfare shall neither make allow nor permit any reductions In assistance payments to recipients of old ago assistance because of Income received earned or arising from tural labor performed by the recipient These provisions become ef effective er- er effective on April 1 1 I 1945 and continue In effect until the end of six months alter after the termination of or hostilities In the tho present war as proclaimed by the President President President dent of or the United States Outlining the procedures to be follow follow- followed ed in Implementing provisions of or the new law the tho instructions emphasized that 1 Only those thoe individuals who actu actu- actually actually actually ally were paid old-age old assistance In July 1943 may qualify The Tho amount of or the grant of or those I I I I who qualify and earn exempted income must be cut back to the amount nm paid In July 1943 3 Agricultural labor Is defined as services performed in connection with the tho raising and harvesting of agricultural tural commodities either as an employee or otherwise 4 Services performed in connection with processing Canning or freezing in commercial plants are not included in inthe inthe inthe the definition of or agricultural labor and therefore may not be exempted from deduction from the grant paid pala While the state law does not sped sped- specifically restrict qualification only to those persons receiving old-age old assistance in July 1943 Commission Chairman Soph- Soph Sophus us Bertelson B explained nor prescribe that grants must be cut back to the amount paid in July 1943 1043 It carries the qualifying phrase as permitted under Public Law 45 Congress first ses ses- session session ses- ses session sion or other acts of congress The Attorney General has ruled that it Is the duty of or the department to reduce the grants to what they were on July 1 I 1943 1043 In order to fully comply with the provisions of or Public Law No N 45 Public Law No 45 is 15 a Joint resolution resolution resolution tion passed by congress In 1943 1043 It pro pro- provides provides I vides vines that notwithstanding provisions o o Rii Social Security Act relating to Federal In state payments of old-age old assistance requiring that all income and resources shall be taken into consideration Federal grants in grants In aid ald shall not be withheld from a state I because that state falls to take tako Into i to I consideration any income in ome and resources resources resources' arising from agricultural labor 1 I Further it provides that in order to qualify under its provisions payments to recipients shall be at a n rate not in excess of the tho rate of old age assistance paid during the tho month of July 1943 State law refers simply to agricultural agrIcultural agricultural tural labor Mr Bertelson In practical application the term agri agricultural cultural labor must be defined We have simply used the definition of labor given the U. U S. S Internal Revenue Revenue Code Codo the definition adopted by the Social Security Board in implementing Public Law 45 A brief briet statement of or the provisions under the law is to be enclosed with each ach old-age old assistance check to be bo mailed to recipients in April the com corn commission commission mission revealed In addition to the statement of the qualifying provisions i ithe the recipient if 1 he ho is Interested In I taking advantage of the plan will be i urged to secure additional information about the matter from the county wel wel- welfare welfare welfare I fare office We Ve are most anxious Mr Bertelson said to avoid any misunderstanding misunderstanding standing of the provisions under this law There are which unless made clear could cause bitter disappointment disappointment to the recipients We should dislike greatly to have to reduce an in individuals individual's in- in inI Individuals Individual's old-age old assistance or declare I him ineligible as a result of a miscon misconstruction on his part of the rights given I him under law State welfare officials were reluctant rel tant to attempt any estimate of or the probable effect of or the new law on the caseload case load expenditure in the tho old-age old assist assist- assistance ace ance ce program It was explained that only such income from agricultural labor as defined and which is 15 earned on or after April 1 1 1945 can be exempt under provision of ot the law In this respect therefore the new policy would not in increase In- In Increase increase crease grants by restoring any prior deductions because of agricultural labor income There will be some reductions In the amount of grants of those wishing Continued on Page Eight |