Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Saskatchewan. Dept. of Welfare. Public Assistance Branch
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Public Assistance Branch of the Department of Welfare was established in 1965. The branch was responsible for the administration of: The Social Aid Act (replaced by The Saskatchewan Assistance Act, 1966); The Old Age Assistance Act; The Blind Persons' Allowances Act; The Disabled Persons' Allowances Act; and The Deserted Wives' and Children's Maintenance Act. At its establishment, programs provided by the division were: social aid; supplemental allowances to old age security pensioners and blind persons; dependent families allowances; old age assistance; disabled and blind persons' allowances; and deserted wives and children's support.
On April 1, 1966, the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan (SAP) was introduced under authority of the new Saskatchewan Assistance Act, 1966 and the Saskatchewan Assistance Regulations. The SAP replaced the former social aid program and assumed responsibility for the former allowance programs. This, coupled with changes to federal public assistance programs, allowed the branch to streamline public assistance into a single program for the provision of assistance for all persons in need. Funding for the SAP continued to be provided by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, with the SAP assuming responsibility for the administration of public assistance from municipalities in the province. Legislation, however, allowed for qualified municipalities to continue the administration of the assistance programs. The Cities of Moose Jaw and Prince Albert (and their related Rural Municipalities) chose to administer their own programs. In locations where municipalities did not participate, the program was administered from regional offices throughout the province. The SAP aimed at providing a more holistic approach to assisting residents in need by providing medical, psychological and vocational assessments and counselling to recipients and members of their families in addition to financial assistance.
In accordance with Section 17 of The Saskatchewan Assistance Act, the Provincial-Municipal Advisory Board was appointed in the 1966-1967 fiscal year. It was comprised of the deputy minister of the Department of Welfare, the director of the Public Assistance Branch, three representatives each of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, one representative each from the Departments of Public Health and Municipal Affairs and a community representative. The Board advised on issues related to the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan, including the distribution of public assistance funds to the Plan's recipients. Local appeal committees were also established to adjudicate appeals of dissatisfied SAP recipients.
As a result of departmental reorganization in 1968, the planning and administration of public assistance programs became the responsibility of the department's Programs Division, while the delivery of the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan became the responsibility of the Operations Division.