Dunbar v. Weinberger

412 F. Supp. 454, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7261
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedAugust 7, 1974
DocketCiv. A. No. 74-862-F
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 412 F. Supp. 454 (Dunbar v. Weinberger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dunbar v. Weinberger, 412 F. Supp. 454, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7261 (D. Mass. 1974).

Opinion

OPINION

FREEDMAN, District Judge.

This is an action in which plaintiffs seek to have the Court declare invalid a federal regulation promulgated by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (45 C.F.R. § 233.20(a)(3)(H)) and a comparable state regulation promulgated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Welfare (Massachusetts State Letter 242H). The regulations allegedly operate to deny those recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) (Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 602) who are participants in the “Public Service Employment” (PSE) component of the Work Incentive Program (WIN) (42 U.S.C. § 602(a)(19) et seq. and § 630 et seq.), a complete disregard (for AFDC purposes) allegedly required by 42 U.S.C. § 602(a)(l9)(D), of income derived from participation in the PSE program. The named plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of all others similarly situated. It is alleged by plaintiffs that the regulations are in contravention of 42 U.S.C. § 602(a)(19)(D) as well as violative of the Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause, and, in the case of the state regulation, the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. They seek from the Court on behalf of themselves and the class they purport to represent, a determination to that effect and a declaration that said regulations are therefore invalid. They also seek injunctive relief enjoining defendants from enforcing the regulations and an order directing the defendants to promulgate regulations providing that income derived from PSE participation shall be disregarded in determining the needs of AFDC recipients. Plaintiffs ask for costs and payment of all monies wrongfully withheld. The convening of a three-judge district court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281 and 2284, has also been [456]*456requested by plaintiffs. The matter is currently before the Court on plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.

Three-Judge Panel

A three-judge court was designated by order of the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit dated March 20, 1974. By order of this Court dated May 7, 1974, it was determined that the single judge should first decide the statutory claims. [See Hagans v. Lavine, 415 U.S. 528, 94 S.Ct. 1372, 39 L.Ed.2d 577, 42 U.S.L.W. 4381 (1974).] A ruling adverse to the plaintiffs on those claims would result in the convening of the three-judge court to determine the constitutional claims. A ruling favorable to the plaintiffs on those claims would preclude the necessity of a three-judge court as the substantial constitutional questions would not be reached. In light of the determination which follows, it is the latter result which obtains in this case.

Class Action

In addition to themselves and their minor children, the named plaintiffs seek to represent a class consisting of all others in Massachusetts who are employed under the Public Service Employment component of the Work Incentive Program. It is alleged that all the prerequisites necessary to maintain a Rule 23(b)(2) class action are present. By separate order of this date, the Court has certified the requested class. [See discussion on “Class Action” in Rivet v. Minter, (Civil Action No. 74-636-F, August 1, 1974) a similar case decided recently by this Court.]

Facts

The following facts have been stipulated to:

1. AFDC is a public assistance program established pursuant to Title IV of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq. Massachusetts’ participation in the AFDC program is authorized by M.G.L., Chapters 18 and 118. In order to receive federal matching funds, the Commonwealth must operate a state plan which conforms to the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq. and other applicable provisions of federal law. The federal AFDC program provides financial aid and services to children and specified caretaker relatives in circumstances where the children are in financial need and have been deprived of the care and support of one or both parents. Children who meet the eligibility.criteria set forth in 42 U.S.C. §§ 602(a) and 606 must receive financial aid as a matter of statutory entitlement. Individuals eligible for AFDC are automatically eligible for medical assistance (Medicaid) coverage.

2. The 1967 amendment to the Social Security Act, Public Law 90-248, required those states wishing to participate in the AFDC program to have a WIN program which is a federal training and employment program for AFDC recipients administered by the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and the Secretary of Labor. The program had to include three placement components: (1) regular employment or on-the-job training in the regular economy; (2) institutional and work experience training; and (3) “special work projects” for those individuals for whom a job in the regular economy could not be found. 42 U.S.C. § 632.

3. Public Law 90-248 provided various financial work incentives in each of the three components to encourage AFDC recipients to find and keep training or employment.

4. In 1971, Congress amended the Social Security Act and changed the structure of WIN through P.L. 92 — 223. Section 3 of P.L. 92 — 223, inter alia, amended the third component from “special work projects” to “public service employment” and altered the method of financing said component. The first and second components remained the same.

5. Congress also specifically provided both in 1967 and 1971 that AFDC assistance “will not be denied ... by [457]*457reason of an individual’s participation on a project under the program established by section 682(b) . . . (3).” 42 U.S.C. § 602(a)(19)(B).

6. Public Law 92-223 left unchanged 42 U.S.C. § 602(a)(19)(D) which section provides, in part, that “income derived from a special work project under the program established by section 632(b)(3) of this title shall be disregarded in determining the needs of an individual . . ” in determining eligibility for and the amount of AFDC.

7. On or about June 20, 1972, HEW, in response to P.L. 92 — 223, amended its WIN regulations, to be effective July 1, 1972.

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Related

Simpson v. Miller
535 F. Supp. 1041 (N.D. Illinois, 1982)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
412 F. Supp. 454, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dunbar-v-weinberger-mad-1974.