TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1980
INCREASE IN SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT RATES
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT PAYMENT RATES FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES WOULD BE INCREASED BY ABOUT 22 PER CENT FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE MAXIMUM RATES OF RENT ALLOWANCE PAYABLE TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES WILL ALSO GO UP BY AS MUCH AS OVER 14 PER CENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCALE RATES WERE REVIEWED FROM TIME TO TIME AND ADJUSTED TO MAINTAIN THEIR REAL PURCHASING VALUE.
HE SAID IT WOULD BE THE SIXTH INCREASE TO BE MADE SINCE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1971, THE LAST INCREASE OF ABOUT 15 PER CENT BEING MADE LAST SEPTEMBER.
THE INCREASE IS ESTIMATED TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $56.8 MILLION BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND THE END OF MARCH NEXT YEAR, AND AN EXTRA $97.4 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR THEREAFTER.
THE PAYMENT RATES OF SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES, WHICH COMPRISE THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, ARE LINKED WITH THOSE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, HE SAID.
THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HELPS PEOPLE IN NEED TO MEET BASIC LIVING, WHILE THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE CARING OF AN ELDERLY OR DISABLED MEMBER IN A FAMILY.
THE NEW PAYMENT RATES PER MONTH ARE AS FOLLOWS1
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
SINGLE PERSON LIVING ALONE
$280
EACH OF FIRST THREE MEMBERS
OF FAMILY
$200
EACH OF SECOND THREE MEMBERS
OF FAMILY
-
$170
EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER
THEREAFTER
$130
OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT (FOR ANY
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT
AGED 60 AND ABOVE)
$140
DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT (FOR
ANY PARTIALLY DISABLED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT)
$140
/ANNUAL LONG-TERM