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Major improvements to CSSA Scheme recommended
Single parents, family carers and adults in ill-health who are currently receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) payments are to benefit most under a basket of recommendations made by the Steering Group set up to review the scheme in March 1995.
Unveiling details of the Review at a press conference today (Friday), the Secretary for Health and Welfare. Mrs Katherine Fok, reaffirmed the validity of the Government's underlying policy on social security to provide financial assistance to those who needed it to bring their income up to a level where their basic and special needs could be met..
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She said: "This policy goal is easier said than met. But it is important that we bear this policy objective in mind."
She said social security was not a form of retirement protection. It cannot and should not be used, for example, to guarantee a certain type of lifestyle for the elderly - a function more appropriate for a retirement protection or pension scheme to which beneficiaries are normally expected to contribute.
"It is not, therefore, fair to test the new levels of CSSA payments recommended in the Review against such criteria. The test should rather be whether the payments are fair and whether they meet adequately basic needs." Mrs Fok said.
The recommendations of the Steering Group which was chaired by the Director of Social Welfare, will require a total cost of $508 million to implement, including the $300 million already pledged by the Governor in his Policy Address last October.
If the funds are approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. the recommendations will come into effect on April 1.
Of the total, $317 million will be used to increase CSSA standard rates: $46 million to increase the maximum rent allowance to CSSA rent paying households living in private housing: $45 million to meet new special grants for the elderly: $41 million to meet a flat-rate grant for school related expenses; and $59 million to meet additional staffing costs to improve customer service.