XN000022-1980-02-01 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1980

THE NEW RATES OF ALLOWANCE ARE SHOWN BELOW WITH THE OLD RATES IN BRACKETS,

(1) APPLICANT WITH NO DEPENDANT

(2) APPLICANT AND FIRST TWO

DEPENDANTS

(3) 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH DEPENDANTS

(4) 6TH AND ADDITIONAL DEPENDANTS

NEW RATE

OLD RATE

$230

($200)

$165 EACH

($145)

$140 EACH IN ADDITION TO

($120

EACH IN

(2)

$105 EACH IN ADDITION TO (2) AND (3)

ADDITION TO (2))

($90

EACH IN ADDITION TO (2) AND (3))

HE ADDED THAT PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT SUCH INCREASES IN THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES MADE SO AS TO KEEP THEM IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RATES WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY INCREASE IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON LEGAL AID.

PRESENT FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY LIMITS FOR CIVIL CASES ARE A MONTHLY DISPOSABLE INCOME OF NOT MORE THAN $1 000 AND A DISPOSABLE CAPITAL OF NOT MORE THAN $10 000, FOR CRIMINAL CASES THESE LIMITS ARE A DISPOSABLE INCOME OF $1 500 PER MONTH AND A DISPOSABLE CAPITAL OF $10 000.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT PERSONS WITH REAL INCOMES WELL IN EXCESS OF $1 000 MIGHT BE FINANCIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL AID FOR CIVIL CASES. EQUALLY PERSONS EARNING FAR MORE THAN $1 500 A MONTH MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL AID FOR CRIMINAL CASES.

LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT GAVE LEGAL AID TO MORE THAN 4 000 PEOPLE IN RESPECT OF CIVIL CASES. THESE INCLUDED CLAIMS FOR WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, DAMAGES FOR DEATH OR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF TRAFFIC OR INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, WAGES CLAIMS, TENANCY CASES, INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS, ADMIRALTY ACTIONS

ADMIRALTY ACTIONS, DIVORCE AND OTHER MATRIMONIAL CASES, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER TYPES OF PROCEEDINGS.

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