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Reply:
The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme provides a 'safety net' for those members of our community who do not have sufficient means to support themselves. It is a non-contributory scheme and is funded entirely from General Revenue. It is necessary to ensure that benefits provided under the Scheme are available only to those who are genuinely in need. Beneficiaries are therefore means-tested, both to determine their eligibility and assistance entitlement.
To determine their financial status, all CSSA applicants are required to declare their financial resources. Elderly persons applying for CSSA go through the same procedures as CSSA applicants in other age groups.
An elderly CSSA applicant, who has hitherto been supported by his/her children, is asked to submit a declaration by the children confirming
(a)
the extent of the support; or
(b)
that the support will cease.
If the declaration from the children is not forthcoming, a declaration by the elderly applicant to the same effect will suffice. This process is also applicable to applicants of other ages, who claim that they have been receiving some form of support from other family members.
This requirement is part of the process to ascertain the financial resources available to and the needs of the applicant. It is to ensure that assistance is provided only to those in need and that public funds are properly spent.
Having said this, I want to emphasise that no elderly person in need of assistance has been deprived of CSSA simply because he/she has not been able to provide a declaration on this count.
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