MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1982
MORE APPEALS HEARD BY SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD
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THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD RECEIVED 70 APPEALS IN 1981-82, OR 29 PER CENT MORE THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.
IN ITS 1981-82 ANNUAL REPORT JUST PUBLISHED, THE BOARD NOTES THAT OF THE APPEALS, 19 WERE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES, 47 WERE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE CASES AND THE REMAINING FOUR CONCERNED THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
BOARD HEARINGS WERE HELD FOR 57 APPEALS, 11 OF WHICH WERE BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOTAL REFLECTED AN INCREASE OF 17 HEARINGS OVER 1980-81.
OF THE APPEALS HEARD, THE BOARD CONFIRMED THE DECISIONS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE ON 31 CASES AND GAVE SUBSTITUTES FOR HIS DECISIONS ON 26 OTHERS.
THE REPORT SAID THAT THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF THE BOARD'S IMPORTANT ROLES.
→THE COMPLAINTS LODGED AT THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD DO NOT ALL EVENTUALLY BECOME APPEALS BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS OF SOME COMPLAINANTS MAY BE SOLVED WHEN APPROPRIATE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE STAFF OF THE BOARD, + IT ADDED.
THE BOARD RECEIVED 103 COMPLAINTS DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, ONE CASE LESS THAN IN THE PRECEDING YEAR.
OF THESE, 45 DID NOT LEAD TO APPEALS, 11 WERE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES, AND 47 EVENTUALLY BECAME APPEALS.
THE BOARD SAID IN THE REPORT THAT THE APPEAL MACHINERY SHOULD BE GIVEN WIDER PUBLICITY.
WHERE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CASE BEING REVIEWED FOR EXTENSION OF ALLOWANCE MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETED FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER EVEN WHEN THE ALLOWANCE HAD EXPIRED, THE BOARD SAID THAT PAYMENTS SHOULD CONTINUE UNTIL COMPLETION OF INVESTIGATIONS
IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY HARDSHIP TO THE RECIPIENT.
IT SUGGESTED THAT PART OF THE EARNINGS OF THOSE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WHO SHOULD BE IN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT BE DISREGARDED.
AT PRESENT, THIS RULE APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
IT SAID THAT A RELAXATION OF THIS RULE WOULD ENCOURAGE RECIPIENTS TO BE DILIGENT AND AT THE SAME TIME DISCOURAGE THEM FROM BEING DISHONEST.
THE BOARD ALSO FELT THAT THE PERMITTED PERIOD OF ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG FOR RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE RELAXED TO SIX MONTHS IN A YEAR.
/AT PRESENT,