12
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1993
RESIDENTIAL FEES FOR ELDERLY REVERTED
* * * * *
THE
DISABLED
FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND EX-OFFENDERS WILL BE REVERTED TO THE LEVELS AS AT APRIL 1 WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1.
THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SUBVENTIONS AND LOTTERIES FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AT THE MEETING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON JULY 19, MEMBERS ADVISED THAT THE FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES SHOULD BE REVERTED TO THE APRIL 1 LEVEL SO THAT CLIENTS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE USING THE SERVICES MAY DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASE BROUGHT BY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE ON JULY 1.
PRESENT
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, A MAJOR PART OF THE INCREASE IN ASSISTANCE WAS DEDUCTED IN THE FORM OF FEE AND ALLOCATED TO THE HOMES AS ADDITIONAL FOOD ALLOWANCE TO IMPROVE CATERING,
"AS THE MAJORITY OF CLIENTS EXPRESS THE DISPOSABLE INCOME IN THEIR POCKET INSTEAD, THE OBJECTION TO REVERT THE FEE TO THE APRIL 1 LEVEL,
WISH TO HAVE MORE DEPARTMENT SEES NO
HE ADDED.
CONSULTED WERE ALSO
HE SAID THE OPERATING AGENCIES THAT WERE MATTER GAVE SUPPORT TO THE PROPOSAL. MOST OF THEM VIEW THAT THE INCREASE IN FOOD COST PROVIDED IN APRIL WAS ADEQUATE.
ON THE OF THE ALREADY
PERSON USING RANGING FROM
AS A RESULT OF THE FEE REVERSION, AN ELDERLY HOSTEL SERVICES WILL GET AN INCREASE IN POCKET MONEY $12 TO $142 A MONTH DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE PERSON IS LIVING IN A SELF-CARE PLACE, A MEAL PLACE OR A CARE-AND-ATTENTION PLACE.
"THIS WILL GIVE THE CLIENTS A GREATER CHOICE ON HOW TO USE THEIR INCREASED POCKET MONEY TO MEET THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALREADY CONVEYED THIS DECISION то OPERATING AGENCIES CONCERNED EARLY THIS MONTH SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE CHANGE.
"THE OTHER SERVICES RECOMMENDED FOR FER REVERSION WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 1 INCLUDE DAY-CARE CENTRES POR THE ELDERLY, HOME-HELP SERVICES AND REHABILITATION OF EX-OFFENDERS, HE ADDED.
[
/13