Number of welfare recipients rises again

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The number of people on welfare assistance has climbed for the fourth month in a row and it is at its peak for the year.

But welfare officials say this was predicted with the figures expected to escalate until January or February next year.

The state Welfare Division reported Tuesday there were 17,427 people receiving grants in September, 1.1 percent higher than August. There were increases of 2.1 percent in June, 1 percent in July and 3.9 percent in August.

But the 17,427 is far less than the 42,000 welfare recipients before the 1996 welfare reform. With that law and a strong Nevada jobs economy, the numbers dropped to less than 16,000. The decline came as the state's population was growing rapidly.

Welfare Administrator Mike Willden said Tuesday he has no explanation for the rising numbers. He called it a cyclical phenomenon. And there wasn't any surprise.

The division had predicted the numbers will rise during the second half of this year and will reach 20,000 in January or February 2001. And then they are expected to decline to 18,000 in June 2001.

What worries Willden, however, is that welfare payments are running about $2 million a month and the budget calls only for spending $1.8 million.

The welfare clients coming on the rolls have fewer assets than expected. So their grant is higher.

And the average family is smaller than anticipated. Willden explained that a single person on public assistance would qualify for a grant of $230 and if a child is added, the amount goes up $60 for each child. And a family of three qualifies for $348 a month.

So the average cost for a welfare recipient is going up because the families are smaller and with more limited resources, he said.

The division also said the number of people eligible for Medicaid grew for the sixth-straight month. It totaled 110,302, the highest number of this year and a 1.3 percent increase above August. Medicaid is the program that cares for the needy.

The number of persons on food stamps however declined for the second straight month. It fell to 62,267 in August, down by 15 persons from July.