27
Basket of new initiatives to improve quality of life
The proposed enhancements to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme announced by the Governor in his Policy Address on Wednesday (October 11) are only one part of the CSSA Review currently underway.
Any further recommendations arising from the Review will be implemented in 1996-97 following consultation with the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and Members of the Legislative Council.
This was stated by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, during a briefing session for the newly-elected Legislative Councillors this (Friday) morning on the new policy initiatives the Government will be taking next year in health and welfare.
The Review started in November last year and is scheduled for completion in early 1996. A central element of the Review is to assess the adequacy of the CSSA standard rates based on, among other things, an analysis of data from the year-long Household Expenditure Survey which has just been completed.
According to the survey, the first six months' data on the spending pattern of CSSA clients and of the lowest five per cent income group (that is those whose income and assets are just above the level which would make them otherwise eligible for CSSA) show that the standard rates for the majority of clients are higher than both their own expenditure and the spending levels of the lowest five per cent income group.
But the standard rates for adults and elderly clients living in a family, are lower than the level of spending of their equivalents in the lowest five per cent income
group.
"Based on this analysis, we believe we must act promptly to give help where it is needed and justified," said Mrs Fok.
She said subject to LegCo's approval, it was proposed to increase the following monthly standard rates from April next year:
by 54% to $1,605 for single parents and adults caring for dependants at home: