Welfare numbers rise 3 percent

Wednesday, June 26, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- While the unemployment rate leveled off in May, the number of those receiving state welfare benefits increased by 3 percent.

And the 35,122 people getting public assistance grants is a number 83 percent higher than a year ago.

The state Welfare Division said Tuesday it has no idea when the growth in cases will begin to level off. But it predicts the increases will continue into early part of the next fiscal year that starts July 1.

The 3 percent increase in May came after a decline of 0.2 percent in public assistance recipients in April, the only drop in the last year.

State Welfare Administrator Nancy Ford attributed the increase to the rising population and the stagnant economy.

Come July 1, she said, she will be able to hire more staff, including 13 employment and training specialists. Most of those who are coming on the welfare rolls now are job ready, said Ford. She said the present staff has been busy processing the applications for those who want welfare benefits.

Ford said only 6 percent of those on welfare are also drawing unemployment checks. Gov. Kenny Guinn, after Sept. 11, said those qualifying for unemployment could also be accepted into the welfare program.

The division still has a small reserve left to pay for the higher than expected numbers. Ford said that reserve fund will be exhausted next year unless there is a major turnaround.

The Legislature allocated enough money to handle 17,818 recipients this year and 18,431 next fiscal year.

Unemployment in Nevada in May was at 5.5 percent, the same level as in April.

The number of those receiving Medicaid, the program of medical assistance to the needy, increased to 155,601 in May, a 2.2 percent rise compared to April. Medicaid recipients are up more than 23 percent from a year ago in May.

The Legislature authorized money for 125,523 this fiscal year and for 133,142 next fiscal year.