in later years, individual states were given broad discretion as to how much in benefits — and indeed, "any" benefits — need be paid to adults without dependent children; and the trend since the 1980s has been for states to sharply curtail, and even eliminate, such aid. as of 2005, only two states — new jersey and utah — still paid cash welfare benefits to childless adults deemed "able-bodied" (many other states do allow such payments to be made if a disability is demonstrated). in any event, the person(s) seeking general assistance must first apply for any other programs — state or federal — for which alternate eligibility may or may not exist; only if all such applications are denied is the applicant then permitted to receive general assistance benefits, which usually include food stamps, and often, assistance in paying for rental housing.