XN000022-1978-01-29 — Page 4

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 1978

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS

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SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES WHOSE PAY DATES FALL ON THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE CORRESPONDING ADVANCE PAYMENT DATES FOR RECIPIENTS WITH COUPONS TO BE CASHED ON FEBRUARY 7, 8 AND 9 WILL NOW BE FEBRUARY 3 (FRIDAY), FEBRUARY 4 (SATURDAY) AND FEBRUARY 6 (MONDAY).

HE STRESSED: +THOSE INVOLVED SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THEIR OWN PAYMENT DATES SO THAT THEY CAN GET THE ALLOWANCES BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.+

AS BOTH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES WILL BE INCREASED BY ABOUT 11 PER CENT FROM NEXT MONTH, THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED RECIPIENTS TO ERING THEIR ORIGINAL CASH VOUCHER BOOKS AND THE SUPPLEMENTARY COUPONS WHEN COLLECTING PAYMENTS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT RECIPIENTS CURRENTLY RECEIVING PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN SUPPLEMENTARY CASH COUPONS FOR THE ADDITIONAL SUM ACCORDING TO THE REVISED SCALE.

+RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE ANY DOUETS OR QUERIES CONCERNING THE SCALE OR DATE OF PAYMENT SHOULD CONTACT THEIR RESPECTIVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS,+ HE ADDED.

THIS INCREASE IN SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS, THE FIFTH REVISION SINCE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1971, AIMS TO MAINTAIN THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE POORER SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY,

IN DECIDING THE SCALE OF REVISION, REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INDEX WHICH COMPRISES ELEMENTS IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SUCH AS FOOD, FUEL, LIGHTING AND CLOTHING IN PROPORTIONS REFLECTING THE SPENDING HABITS OF THE POORER FAMILIES.

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