XN000022-1975-04-29 — Page 3

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1975

+IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN DISCUSSING THIS TO KEEP IN MIND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS INTENDED. THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE CASH HELP AT A DECENT LEVEL FOR THOSE WHO, AS A RESULT OF AGE, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, OR THROUGH FAMILY COMMITMENTS, ARE NOT AVAILABLE OR WHO ARE UNABLE TO WORK AND SO CANNOT SUPPORT THEMSELVES BY THEIR EARNINGS.+

THIS, HE POINTED OUT, WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE SITUATION FACED BY THE UNEMPLOYED WHO ARE AVAILABLE FOR AND CAN WORK. THE SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEM, HE SAID, WAS ONE OF WORK OPPORTUNITY.

MR. LEE SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH AN UNEMPLOYED PERSON COULD NOT DIRECTLY RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THE ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY COULD +SO IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LARGER FAMILY, FOR HIM TO SHARE THE HELP PROVIDED BY PUBLIC ASSISTNACE JUST AS IN THE SAME WAY AS THE FAMILY SHARE HIS EARNINGS WHEN HE IS IN WORK.+

+AT THE SAME TIME, IF A PERSON EXPERIENCES HARDSHIP BECAUSE HE IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE UNDER THE EXISTING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO HELP HIM, SUCH AS GRANTING HIM TEMPORARY RELIEF.+

+I DO APPRECIATE THAT ALL THIS IS FAR FROM EASY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED PERSON, BUT THE HELP GIVEN DOES AFFORD SOME PROTECTION,+ HE SAID.

DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF TIME TAKEN TO MAKE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, WHICH HAD DROUGHT CRITICISM, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE SAID UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, PAYMENTS ARE MADE, ON AVERAGE, THREE WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF APPLICATION, PROVIDING, OF COURSE, THAT THE APPLICANT SUPPLIES ALL THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO VERIFY CIRCUMSTANCES.

+1 THINK I SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT BECAUSE THE SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED, IT INEVITABLY TAKES TIME TO CHECK ALL THE FACTS TO ENABLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE PAID TO BE CALCULATED. INDEED, IF ONLY SUPERFICIAL ENQUIRIES WERE MADE LEADING TO ON-THE-SPOT PAYMENTS AS A GENERAL RULE, THERE WOULD SOON BE COMPLAINTS THAT NEEDS WERE BEING OVERLOOKED.+

ANOTHER FACTOR THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR DELAYS WAS LACK OF CO-OPERATION BY APPLICANTS.

MR. LEE SAID THERE HAD BEEN A PERIOD TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR WHEN PEOPLE HAD TO WAIT A RATHER LONGER PERIOD BECAUSE A BACKLOG HAD BUILT UP OF CASES AWAITING THE PREPARATION OF CASH ORDER BOOKS.

HOWEVER, THE SITUATION WAS CORRECTED THROUGH REDEPLOYING OF STAFF FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE INTRODUCTION OF SHIFT DUTY UP TO 10 P.M.

/ON OCCASIONS