City and state officials said that this month, after nineteen years, welfare checks are set to increase, bringing the subsidy for a typical family of three to $321 a month, from $291. For a family of four, the subsidy will rise to $413.70 a month, from $375.70.
While the increase was not a major line in Gov. David A. Paterson’s budget this year, it certainly was a hard-fought victory by advocates for the poor, who have long argued that the welfare subsidy was inadequate.
