SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 1978
PUBLIC VIEWS ON DISABILITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME URGED ******
A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICIAL TODAY CALLED ON THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO EXPRESS FULLY THEIR VIEWS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE DEAF.
SENIOR PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT, SAID SHE WOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR VIEWS WERE THOROUGHLY STUDIED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN DECIDING ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST POLICY FOR THE FUTURE.
MRS. GOODSTADT, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S REHABILITATION DIVISION, WAS ADDRESSING A FORUM ON 'DISABILITY ALLOWANCE FOR THE DEAF ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE DEAF.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND THIS COULD BEST BE DONE WHEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY PUT FORWARD THEIR VIEWS STRONGLY AND CLEARLY.
+ IT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING AND WHAT YOUR REASONS ARE FOR WANTING THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS POLICIES OR TO CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENT POLICIES,+ SHE TOLD THE FORUM.
GIVING AN OUTLINE OF THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME, MRS. GOODSTADT SAID IT WAS A FLAT-RATE, NON-CONTRIBUTORY AND NON-MEANS-TESTED ALLOWANCE FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED WHO FORMED THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS ALLOWANCE, SHE SAID, AIMS AT PROVIDING EXTRA-CASH TO A FAMILY WITH THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR A DISABLED MEMBER, ENCOURAGING THE FAMILY TO CONTINUE CARING FOR THE DISABLED. AT HOME WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND ENABLING THE BENEFICIARY TO MAKE SOME CONTRIBUTION TO THE FAMILY 'BUDGET' THUS MAKING HIM FEEL LESS OF A BURDEN.
MRS, GOODSTADT SAID THE SCHEME COVERED PERSONS WHO WERE CERTIFIED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AS SEVERELY DISABLED THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY INJURED OR BLIND, WHO ARE IN DISABLING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION, OR WHO REQUIRE CONSTANT ATTENDANCE.
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SHE MENTIONED TWO IMPORTANT POINTS UNDER THE SCHEME. FIRST IS THAT THE DISABILITY MUST BE EQUIVALENT TO 100 PER CENT LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY AND THE SECOND IS THAT THE PERSON MUST ALSO BE MEDICALLY CERTIFIED AS LIKELY TO BE SEVERELY DISABLED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR AN ALLOWANCE.
AT PRESENT, SHE SAID, ANY ELIGIBLE DISABLED PERSON OR CHILD IS ENTITLED TO THE FULL RATE OF DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, WHICH IS $200 A MONTH, THE SAME AS THE SCALE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
+ IT IS LINKED WITH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCALE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW AND INCREASES CORRESPONDINGLY WHENEVER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RATES ARE INCREASED, SHE SAID.
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