Padilla v. Wyman

Petitioner challenges the constitutionality, under the equal protection clause, of provisions of statute, State regu*39lation and local policy statement which taken together make the amount received by a recipient of old age assistance depend to some extent on the size and composition of the family unit with which she resides.

Prior to'August 1,1971, petitioner, a recipient of public assistance under the Old Age Assistance program, lived alone in her apartment. Under the provisions of subdivision 3 of section 131-a of the Social Services Law, in addition to her grant for rent, as the member of a…