THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1980
DENOTES FIGURES ARE RECALCULATED TO EXCLUDE BANKS' LIABILITIES TO, AND CLAIMS ON, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
DE NOTES THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES TO OBSERVE A MINIMUM LIQUID ASSETS RATIO CAME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1, 1980.
IMPROVED CASH BENEFITS FOR THE DISABLED FROM APRIL 1
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL IMPLEMENT FROM APRIL 1, THIS YEAR TWO FURTHER SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WILL FINANCIALLY HELP THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND THE PARTIALLY DISABLED TO MEET THE IR SPECIAL NEEDS.
THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF, WHILST A DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT WILL BE INTRODUCED UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR THE PARTIALLY DISABLED.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL COST AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $8.9 MILLION IN 1980-81, BENEFITING AN ESTIMATED 3 800 PROFOUNDLY DEAF PEOPLE AND 1 000 PARTIALLY DISABLED PEOPLE.
ANNOUNCING THE DETAILS TODAY (THURSDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE INNOVATIONS ARISE FROM THE WHITE PAPER +SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1980'S+ WHICH OUTLINES THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY AND DIRECT WELFARE SERVICES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID BOTH ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT, ON TOP OF ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR BASIC LIVING, TO THE DISABLED AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS ARISING OUT OF DISABILITY.
APPLICATIONS CAN NOW BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, BUT IN ORDER TO FACILITATE PROCESSING, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO APPLY, IN WRITING, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID AS THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ANOTHER VULNERABLE GROUP IN NEED OF SPECIAL HELP, THEY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NON-MEANS TESTED DISABILITY ALLOWANCE WHICH IS NOW PAID TO 23 000 SEVERELY DISABLED PERSONS.
PROFOUND DEAFNESS, HE SAID, IS DEFINED AS A HEARING LOSS OF 85 DECIBELS OR MORE, OR OF 75 TO 85 DECIBELS WITH OTHER PHYSICAL HANDICAPS INCLUDING LACK OF SPEECH.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, NOW $230 A MONTH, IS ONE OF THE TWO TYPES OF ALLOWANCE UNDER THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES SCHEME - THE OTHER BEING THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR PEOPLE AGED 70 AND OVER.
/AS TO