This study investigated the relationship between the degree of alienation and the incidence of financial dependency. The comparative groups were first time A.F.D.C. recipients and recidivists. The major hypothesis was that there is a relationship between the degree of alienation and the incidence of financial dependency. Our minor hypotheses were that there is a relationship between the degree of powerlessness, normlessness, social isolation and incidence of financial dependency. Depth of understanding was added to the study by measuring the recipient's degree of social anchorage and degree of crisis felt in applying for social assistance...