SOCIAL WELFARE
improving local adoption services and give effect in Hong Kong to The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
The Administration is putting in place the necessary arrangements to launch the legal representation scheme for children and juveniles involved in care or protection proceedings.
Social Security
The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme form the mainstay of Hong Kong's social security system. They are supplemented by three accident compensation schemes: the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Scheme and Emergency Relief.
The CSSA Scheme
The CSSA Scheme is non-contributory but means-tested. It aims to provide cash. assistance to people suffering from financial hardship to meet basic livelihood needs. Applicants should satisfy the residence requirement. Employable CSSA applicants are required to actively seek paid jobs by participating in the Support for Self-reliance (SFS) Scheme. The amount of CSSA is determined by the applicant's resources and needs. The difference between the applicant's assessable income and the total recognised needs under the scheme is the amount of assistance payable.
To help able-bodied unemployed CSSA recipients and other socially disadvantaged groups overcome barriers to work and become self-reliant, the department continued to implement the comprehensive package of employment-related services (see Major Achievements, above).
Elderly CSSA recipients who have received assistance continuously for three years are allowed to continue to receive their monthly standard rate payment and annual long-term supplement if they choose to retire to Guangdong Province.
At year-end, there were 266 571 CSSA cases, compared with 241 673 in 2001. Total expenditure during the year amounted to $15.77 billion, representing an increase of 12 per cent over the previous year.
The SSA Scheme
The non-contributory SSA Scheme provides allowances to meet the special needs of the severely disabled and elderly persons. There are four allowances:
• Normal Disability Allowance
for severely disabled persons with a certified 100
per cent loss of earning capacity. Higher Disability Allowance for severely disabled persons who require constant attendance from others in their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution or medical residential institution under the Hospital Authority.
• Normal Old Age Allowance for persons aged 65 to 69 with income and assets not exceeding the prescribed levels.
188
•
Higher Old Age Allowance
for persons aged 70 or above.
Page 240Page 241