IN
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978
+ IT IS PAYABLE EACH MONTH TO THOSE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AGED 60 AND OVER UNLESS THEY ARE ALREADY RECEIVING A DISABILITY OR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE. THE AMOUNT IS EQUAL TO THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WHICH IS NOW $100 A MONTH, HE SAID.
AN ESTIMATED 35,000 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES ARE ELIGIBLE, HE ADDED.
AS TO THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS INTENDED AS AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP AMONG THE NEEDY BY UNDERTAKING SOME PART-TIME WORK.
+UNDER THIS NEW PROVISION, IN WORKING OUT THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE AGED 60 AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THE IR FIRST $50 EARNINGS WILL BE DISREGARDED ENTIRELY AND HALF OF THEIR NEXT $200 EARNINGS WILL ALSO BE DISREGARDED.
+THIS ALLOWS A MAXIMUM TOTAL OF $150 IN DISREGARDED INCOME A MONTH. ANY EARNINGS ABOVE $250 WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS ASSESSABLE INCOME, HE EXPLAINED.
AS REGARDS THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS NOW EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THOSE ELIGIBLE WHO WERE LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS. THIS BENEFITS ABOUT 2,240 PEOPLE.
THE SETTING UP OF THE APPEAL BOARD AIMS AT PROVIDING A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR ANYONE WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S DECISIONS ON APPLICATIONS MADE FOR HELP UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, HE SAID.
HEARINGS OF THE BOARD WILL BE INFORMAL AND CONDUCTED IN CHINESE. HE ADDED.
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