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11 <br />Report of the Board of Public Welfare <br />To the Honorable Board of Selectmen: <br />The year 1960 has been notable because of new legislation <br />affecting the welfare of our clients and the expenditures <br />for public assistance. <br />On July 1, 1960 an increase of 5.2% was granted to all <br />recipients of .public assistance. This increase is in accordance <br />with General Laws, Chapter IIA, Section 1, which adjusts <br />grants of assistance to the fluctuations in the cost of living. <br />A new category of assistance, known as Medical Care for <br />the Aged, was enacted by Chapter 781 of the Acts of 1960 and <br />became effective on October 1. This is a program financed <br />by Federal, State -and local funds and is designed to provide <br />Medical assistance for ,persons over 65 years of age who meet <br />a means test. We currently have one person in receipt of this <br />assistance. <br />Chapter 781 also provides that the State will participate <br />with the Federal government in reimbursing local com- <br />munities for administrative expenses. In effect this means the <br />town office expenses. <br />Other legislation enacted during 1960 was Chapter 695 <br />which provides that Old Age Assistance grants to clients be <br />increased $1.50 per month per person and Chapter 659 which <br />provides that Disability Assistance grants to clients be in- <br />creased $6.50 per month per person. Both of these acts be- <br />came effective January 1, 1961. <br />Our expenditures in the Old Age Assistance program <br />were substantially greater than in 1959. The higher caseload <br />during this year, greater medical expenses and the 5.2% <br />increase were the principal reasons for the higher expendi- <br />tures. The caseload varied from thirteen to fourteen cases <br />during the year and the year ended with fourteen cases re- <br />ceiving Old Age Assistance. <br />The increased expenditures in Old Age Assistance were <br />somewhat offset by the reduced expenditures in the Aid to <br />Dependent Children program. The average caseload in this <br />category for 1960 was lower than last year despite an increase <br />