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A better benefit package for CSSA recipients
The Government must act promptly to provide help where it is needed and justified under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, said today (Wednesday).
Delivering his fourth Policy Address at the Legislative Council, Mr Patten said although the Review on CSSA would only be completed early next year, it was already known that some rates were too low, that some members of the community were suffering today from genuine financial hardship.
"These are the groups whose current levels of social security benefits are inadequate," he said.
"Their standard rates of CSSA benefits were significantly below the spending levels of equivalent categories of people in the lowest five per cent income group.
"On the other hand, the standard rates for vulnerable groups like the single elderly, children, and people with a disability were generally above the spending levels in the lowest five per cent income group."
year:
He proposed the following improvements in benefit levels from April 1 next
* Single parents and family carers will receive a 54 per cent increase in their
standard rates, which will increase from $1,045 to $1,605 per month.
* Elderly persons living in a family unit will receive a 12 per cent increase in
their standard rate, which will increase from $1,505 to $1,685 per month.
* Adults whose ill-health prevents them from working will receive increases of between 46 and 54 per cent in their standard rates. This will raise their monthly standard rates from $1,210 to $1,770 (for a single adult) and from $1,045 to $1,605 (for an adult living in a family).
* Adults who are unemployed but actively seeking work will receive an increase in their standard rate payments of between 23 and 27 per cent. This will raise their monthly standard rates from $1,210 to $1,490 (for a single adult) and from $1,045 to $1,325 (for an adult living in a family). This rate of increase has been adopted specifically to ensure the Government does do not provide support at a level which could provide a disincentive to find a job.