XN000022-1974-05-10 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1974.

30 PER CENT INCREASE IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

TO MEET RISING COSTS

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PEOPLE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY ALLOWANCES AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, ARE TO BE GIVEN A 30 PER CENT INCREASE BEGINNING ON JUNE 1 TU HELP THEM CUPE WITH PRICE INCREASES.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, MR. FREDERICK CLARK, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (GENERAL) OF SOCIAL WELFARE, SAID THE INCREASES WERE APPROVED ON WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE SCALE RATES FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES, GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS DIA ALLOWANCES, HAVE BEEN KEPT UNDER CLOSE REVIEW AND IN LINE WITH RECENT PRACTICE THE RATES WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED IN JULY, THAT IS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE JANUARY 1974 INCREASE,

+HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE TREND IN RISING COSTS IT WAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT THE REVIEW AHEAD OF TIME AND THUS THE NEW LEVELS OF BENEFIT WILL COME INTO FORCE FROM JUNE 1. THIS MEANS THAT THOSE RECEIVING THE ALLOWANCES WILL IN EFFECT GET SOME EXTRA CASH IN HAND.+

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HE EXPLAINED, ALWAYS KEEPS A CLOSE WATCH ON THE LEVELS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DIA BY REFERENCE EACH MONTH TO THE MOVEMENTS OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INDEX. THIS INDEX, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE GENERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, MEASURES THE COST OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE, PREDOMINANTLY FOOD, INCU.:RED BY THE POOREST MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. CRENT IS EXCLUDED LECAUSE IT IS MET SEPARATELY).

RI

Pi

P1 THE LEVELS OF BENEFIT HAVE IN F CT ALREADY BEEN INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT IN JULY 197, ND 21 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1974 FULLOWING APRIL 1972 VM A TE LUITIAL RATES VERE FIXED.

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L

4+BY ADVANCING THE OPERATING DAT BY ONE MONTH THE INCREASES BEING IMPLEMENTED HEXT TH WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OFAGIVING RECIPIENTS A FIVE PER CENT LEAD OVER THE PROJECTED PRICES FOR JUNE AND IN SJ DOING, VIL P..VIDE SUE EXTRA CASH IN HAND TO THE MUST VULNERABLE LODE 3 OF THE COLITY TU HEMP THEM WEET ESSENTIAL EXPELSED PLODING LIT FURTHER REVIZU, MRY CLAMIK SAID.

Mi THE NEW RATES WILL C: CPRESENT RACES 1 BRACKETS)

SIG-E PERSON LIVING ALONE FIRST THREE ELIGIBLE HELLERS OF A SAMILY

SEJUND THREE ELIGIBLE HEIBERS OF

A FAMILY

EACH 100ITIONAL ELIGIBLE FAMILY AKCE. TUGA THER

DISABILITY ALLQUANCE

LEIRITY ..

PER

+

+

$100 (5145) PER MONTH

$130 CV105) EACH PEN HONTI

(195 € (5) EACH PIN KONTA

$10 (55) EACH PER MONTH

C $10 C5105)

10 05/22.500

/AG AIT