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chronic sickness allowance might well turn out to be an Old Age
Allowance in a different guise for people between 60 and 70.
Social Welfare Advisory Committee has therefore suggested a
reconsideration of this proposal......
The
3.8
In the public comments on the Green Paper considerable
sympathy has also been expressed for the profoundly deaf who are
considered by many to be another "vulnerable group" in need of special
assistance. Many deaf persons are also dumb. This combined disability
makes communication very difficult and adversely affects their ability
to benefit from education and training, and hence, their chances of
gainful employment. It has therefore been argued that this group
should be brought within the scope of the Disability Allowance scheme.
3.9
In the light of the public comments and the advice of the
Social Welfare Advisory Committee, the Government agrees that in the
place of the chronic sickness allowance proposed in the Green Paper,
the Disability Allowance should be extended to cover the profoundly
deaf, and a Disability Supplement should be introduced under the
Public Assistance Scheme.
3.10
A Disability Supplement within the Public Assistance
scheme will benefit the partially disabled who are unable fully to
support themselves, whether they are living alone or with their
families. Apart from reduced earnings, such persons or their
families may well incur extra expenses because of their disability.
This additional supplement will therefore provide better support
for ther and their families than the normal Public Assistance
payments for basic living. The supplement will he half the basic
Public Assistance rate for a single person and will be added to the
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