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Tuesday, February 13, 1973
The definition also covered residents who were totally paralysed,
or so injured as to be bedridden or totally disabled, as well as those who
were victims of a disabling physical or mental condition of comparable severity
or which meant that constant attendance was required.
"It will be the responsibility of the Director of Medical and Health
Services to certify to the Social Welfare Department that an applicant for the
severe disability allowance is severely disabled, and administrative machinery
will be provided for simple and speedy processing," Mr. Heppell said.
But eligibility for an infirmity allowance would not involve the
Medical and Health Department, and the decision would be a matter for the
Social Welfare Department.
Mr. Heppell said an announcement would be soon made about how
applications for an allowance should be handled and when they should be sent
in. Details of this would be widely publicised.
He stressed that while it would not be possible to process all
applications immediately, any delayed payments would be backdated to the day
of application.
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