Governmental Subsidies for the Destitute in Classical Athens

During the classical era, Athens ensured care for the needy who could not work or support themselves, so Athens provided them with financial subsidies that helped them meet and satisfy their needs. Knowing that Athens used to limit these subsidies to the poor, the disabled and orphans, and denied them to beggars who are able to work. For Athens, they are lazy people and do not deserve a subsidy. Hence, the council used to examine applicants for the subsidy to ensure their eligibility for that subsidy. This examination included making sure that the disabled person had a disability that prevented him from working, and that his wealth did not exceed three minae. If the applicant for a subsidy was an orphan, he must have been born to an Athenian citizen, and he might have ensured ascertaining the size of his wealth.
This paper attempts to provide answers a set of questions, including: What are the conditions that must be met by those who are eligible for government subsidies? Were these subsidies confined to war-disabled people, or did these subsidies include all disabled people? Did this subsidy also include all types of disability, or was it limited to a specific disability and not others? Was the subsidy provided to orphans limited to war orphans only? What is the status of orphaned girls and widows concerning this subsidy? Did the subsidy include all orphans, or was it limited to orphans of citizens' children and not others? Finally, how much is this subsidy, and what is its purchasing power?