91 Years Ago
Colorado passed an Old Age Pension in 1933. It was available to needy people over the age of 65 who had lived in the state 15 years or longer. Prohibition had been repealed, and the plan was to finance the old age pensions with the new liquor taxes.
The new law had a decidedly grudging cast:
“Only old people who are unable to support themselves may receive the pension.”
Colorado Transcript – April 27, 1933
To apply for a pension, an applicant was required to appear before the judge of the county court. He or she had to provide detailed information to prove their poverty and attest that there were no adult children who could support their elders. The hearings were open to the public and in some cases were mentioned in the paper.
“The court in its discretion may require the applicant to turn over to the county the whole or any part of his property, as a condition precedent to the granting of the pension…. The granting of the pensions and the amount thereof are matters in the discretion of the judge of the county court.”
Colorado Transcript – June 1, 1933
The court heard applications for pensions from August through October. In early November, he announced which applicants had been granted pensions and the amount to be received by each. Twenty-one applicants were denied and three died before the judge made his decision.
“Judge George H. Lerg in the Jefferson county court, handed down decisions in all old age pension cases which were heard before November 1; 118 pensions were awarded, totaling $774 for the month of November. These pensions will be paid to the pensioners in amounts ranging from $2 to $13 per month.”
Colorado Transcript – November 9, 1933
The Transcript explained that one woman was rejected because she had a sister in Denver who had an income of $140/month. “In denying the pension Judge Lerg wrote a letter to Mrs. Sharp, informing her of her obligation to her sister.”
Thank you to Wendy Weiman for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of November.
