SOCIAL WELFARE
The rates of assistance were increased across the board by 11 per cent in April 1989 to keep pace with inflation. The current basic allowances are $620 for a single person, $465 for each of the first two eligible members of family, $455 for each of the next two eligible members and $445 for each additional eligible member. Separate allowances are paid to cover the cost of renting accommodation.
A monthly old-age supplement of $310 is given to those aged 60 to 69, and $355 to those aged 70 and over, who are not receiving a disability supplement or a special needs allow- ance under a separate scheme. A disability supplement of $310 per month is payable to those who are certified to be partially disabled with at least 50 per cent loss of earning capacity and who are not in receipt of an old-age supplement or a special needs allowance. Those who have received public assistance continuously for 12 months are given an annual long-term supplement to enable them to meet the cost of replacing household wares and durable goods: $790 for a single person; $1,580 for a family with two to four members; 'and $2,370 for a family with five or more members. In addition, special grants are given to certain categories of recipients to meet other needs in particular circumstances. To encourage self-help, an individual's monthly earnings of up to $465 may be disregarded in the calculation of assistance payable.
At the end of 1989, the number of public assistance cases was 66 000, compared with 64 600 in 1988. The majority of recipients are elderly, disabled and single parent families. Expenditure on public assistance in the 1988-9 financial year amounted to $779.3 million, an increase of 10.4 per cent over the previous year.
The Special Needs Allowance Scheme provides flat-rate allowances for the severely disabled and the elderly. Any person, regardless of age and financial means, who is certified to be severely disabled and who has resided continuously in Hong Kong for at least one year immediately before application, is eligible for a disability allowance. To be eligible for an old-age allowance, a person must have resided continuously in Hong Kong for at least five years prior to attaining the qualifying age.
In 1988, a higher disability allowance was introduced at twice the rate of the disability allowance to help those severely disabled persons aged 60 and above who require constant attendance from others in their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution. On April 1, 1989, the age limit was lowered to 16 and will be further extended to cover all ages next year. The current monthly rate for the disability allowance is $620 and, for the higher disability allowance, $1,240.
Old-age allowance is non-means-tested for those aged 70 and above, and they are entitled to a current rate of $355 per month. For those below the age of 70, monthly payments are at a lower rate of $310, subject to a declaration that income and assets do not exceed the prescribed levels. The minimum qualifying age for an old-age allowance was lowered to 67 on April 1. This will be further lowered by phases to 65 in 1991.
The number of people receiving disability and old-age allowances at the end of the year was 401 300, compared with 361 500 at the end of 1988. Expenditure on special needs allowances in the 1988-9 financial year was $1,374 million, an increase of 37 per cent over the previous year.
The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides financial assistance to persons who are injured in the course of crimes of violence or in helping to prevent crime in Hong Kong. It also extends compensation to those injured by law enforcement officers using weapons in the execution of their duty. Payments are made to their surviving dependant family members in the case of individuals killed in any one of these circumstances.
167