These individuals and families may also be eligible to receive other cash benefits, such as social security and aid to families with dependent children, which may raise their incomes above the poverty level. Both old and new law benefits are tax free and expense free, and hence are worth more than the same amount of gross earnings. OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED OR AVAILABLE.-Unremarried widows of veterans are eligible for Federal job preference. PARTICIPATION IN OTHER PROGRAMS.-In 1973, approximately 76 percent of widows and children who received survivors' pensions also received social security payments. SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL The following table shows application of this benefit schedule in $100 increments of countable income. GENERAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIANS BASIC PROGRAM INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVE.-To provide general financial assistance to Indians living on reservations. DATE ENACTED AND MAJOR CHANGES SINCE ENACTMENT.-Legislation in 1921 authorized assistance for the "general support" and "relief of distress" of Indians, and legislation in 1934 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to contract with States and private organizations for the social welfare of Indians. ADMINISTERING AGENCY.-The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the Department of the Interior, through area offices. FINANCING. The financing of the program is by annual closed end appropriations from general revenues of the U.S. Treasury. MAJOR ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS.-General assistance is available, when such assistance is not available from State or local public agencies, to needy Indians who reside on reservations, near reservations (if they have close social and economic ties to the reservation), or in jurisdictions under the BIA in Alaska or Oklahoma. PERSONS INCLUDED.-Eligible individuals and all members of a family group living together with a common family head who are related to or accepted by the family head as members of his family group are included in the program. INCOME TEST Income limits.-Income limitations are equivalent to the State's needs standard in the State in which the reservation is located for basic needs and special needs, if applicable, in the public assistance category to which the individual or family group is most closely related. No application of any payment maximums or other payment limitations used in the State programs is made. Definition of income.-All cash or in-kind income, including home produce when it is in substantial or predictable amounts,1 is considered in determining eligibility. 1 This provision is implemented only in certain parts of Alaska where hunting and fishing provides a major portion of the regular food supply. Treatment of earned income.-The net earnings from wages and self-employment of all members of the assistance group are included as income. However, the earnings of minor children continuing in school may be excluded if there is a feasible plan for use of such earnings for current or future educational or training needs. The net earnings from wages are determined by deducting costs of transportation, tools, social security deductions, and other work-related expenses from gross earnings. Net income from self-employment in farming, stock raising, business or service enterprises, silversmith, arts and crafts, and so forth, is determined by deducting the costs of production or operation from gross income of the enterprise. Benefit payments are reduced by the total amount of net earnings and net income from self-employment (100 percent tax rate). Treatment of unearned income and in-kind income.-All unearned income, except for the value of donated food commodities or food stamps, is included as income. When a basic consumption item is provided by a contribution and is free to the individual or family, or is provided through their own efforts such as provision of fuel, the cost of the item is considered as met by income in kind. The money value of home-produced meat and farm produce, after deduction of production costs, is considered as income only when such food resources are available in substantial and predictable amounts so as to reduce the need to purchase food.2 Small amounts of food, such as from a small garden, are disregarded. Cash income recurring in annual or periodic payments or lump-sum payments such as tribal per capita payments, lease rentals, royalties, sale of timber of real estate, and so forth, after allowing for necessary expenses such as improved housing, purchase of household items, or costs of a plan for education and training for self support, is considered as income to meet need; and the individual or family is ineligible for general assistance until the funds are expended at a reasonable rate for living needs. ACCOUNTING PERIOD.-The income of the recipient is reviewed monthly, except that income which is received periodically-other than monthly or in a lump sum, is considered available during the time that it would meet the individual's or family's needs. ASSETS TEST. The possession of convertible or liquid assets, other than those which are excluded, are considered in the same category as a lump-sum payment and may be utilized for certain necessary purposes, after which the individual or family is ineligible for general assistance during the period such resources are expended for maintenance needs. Assets which are excluded in determining eligibility are the following: The home owned and occupied by the applicant. This does not affect eligibility but is considered as meeting all or part of the consumption item of shelter. Income-producing property or equipment which is currently producing income or which is to be used for future production. Household furnishings and personal effects. Motor vehicles required for transportation. Life insurance policies. 2 This provision is implemented only in certain parts of Alaska where hunting and fishing provides a major portion of the regular food supply. 46-032-75—13 The convertible value of assets such as stocks, bonds, and securities, cash on hand, and savings are considered as income available in meeting current needs. OTHER CONDITIONS Work requirements.-Applicants and recipients are expected to seek and accept available employment which they are able and qualified to perform. This includes seasonal work away from the reservation if Indians living on the reservation have been accustomed to going off the reservation for such employment. The criteria which are applied in determining whether an individual may be reasonably expected to work are the following: Availability of employment; physical and mental capacity and adequate skill to perform the work available; accessability of employment without undue hardship, serious disorganization of the family, or interruption of school attendance of children; availability of transportation and consideration of whether families in similar circumstances are accepting similar employment; rates of pay and working conditions commensurate with community rates and conditions; and existence of family or child care problems or illness precluding employment. Acceptance of training or rehabilitation.-There is no requirement. However, the head of the household, or another family member if the household head is not available for employment, may be referred on a voluntary basis to a tribal work experience program where such programs are in operation. This program may include work training and adult education. The participants of the program are paid the amount of the general assistance benefit plus $30 a month. Citizenship. The requirements of Indian descent and residence on or near a reservation imply a citizenship requirement. Lien, recover, or assignment.-There is no provision. Relative responsibility.—There is no provision. Institutional status.-Payments may be made to or in behalf of persons who require institutional or custodial home care. Skilled nursing home care is provided through the Indian Health Service of the U.S. Public Health Service. Residence requirement.-To be eligible for assistance an Indian must reside on a reservation, near a reservation (and have a close social and economic tie to the reservation), or in a jurisdiction under the BIA in Alaska or Oklahoma. CASH BENEFITS BENEFITS AND SERVICES Primary determinants of amount of benefits.-The amount of the general assistance benefit is the difference between 100 percent of the budgetary standard for basic needs, as established by the State for its public assistance program, and countable cash and inkind income available to the individual or family. Relationship of benefit amount to family size.-The amounts included for basic needs vary according to the number of persons in the assistance group. State maximums used in public assistance programs do not apply. Relationship of benefit amount to place of residence.-General assistance for Indians is available only on or near reservations and in jurisdictions under the BIA in Alaska and Oklahoma. In addition, as explained above, eligibility criteria and benefit amounts vary depending upon the State in which the reservation or jurisdiction is located. Relationship of benefit amount to cost-of-living changes.-There is no direct relationship. However, benefit amounts are subject to change as State public assistance budgetary standards are increased or modified. Amount of benefit.-The estimated average payment per month per person in fiscal year 1974 was $47. This amount is lower than the national average of about $57 per month per AFDC recipient. Although State limitations on payments do not apply, Indians on reservations are more likely to own their homes or pay lower rent than nonreservation assistance recipients. Also, in many cases, general assistance is given to supplement lease income or earnings. Comparison to poverty level.-Among the 17 States in which most reservation Indians live, all have needs standards for a family of 4 which are below the July 1974 nonfarm poverty level of $422 per month; 14 States have cost standards below the poverty level of $359 per month for families living on farms. Since general assistance payments are lower because of low rental costs or homeownership and since there is no earnings disregard other than work expenses, most general assistance beneficiaries would have incomes below the poverty level for farm and nonfarm families. BENEFITS FROM OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH ACCRUE BY VIRTUE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR TARGET PROGRAM.-Recipients are eligible for food commodities or food stamps and for health services through the U.S. Public Health Services for Indians. Housing services may be available through the Indian housing improvement program or other HUD low-income housing programs under tribal sponsorship. OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED OR AVAILABLE.-Vocational rehabilitation may be available through State programs, through tribal work experience and protected work opportunities, or through a variety of BIA or other training programs. Social services (such as counseling and guidance for family problems, money management, home improvement, and services to unmarried mothers) and child welfare services (such as protection and care of neglected, dependent, or handicapped children, foster home placement, and adoption) are provided by BIA social service staff, if they are not available from other sources. Foster home care of children is contracted from State welfare departments in five States. Services are available to assist Indians to secure assistance and services for which they are eligible from State and local welfare programs. 'As of July 1974; |