XN000022-1980-03-21 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1980

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REVIEWING SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST DECADE

MR LEE SAID PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WAS CONVERTED IN 1971 FROM DRY RATIONS TO CASH ASSISTANCE ON A MEANS-TEST BASIS TO MEET BASIC LIVING, AND WAS EXTENDED IN 1977 TO COVER THE UNEMPLOYED ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WHO COULD NOT SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

IN 1978, THE SCHEME WAS FURTHER IMPROVED BY ADDING IN AN OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT FOR THOSE RECIPIENTS AGED 60 AND OVER, AN ANNUAL LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT TO REPLACE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR OSE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR 12 MONTHS, AND AN INCOME DISREGARD SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE TAKING UP PART-TIME JOBS, HE SAID.

AN INDEPENDENT APPEAL BOARD WAS ALSO SET UP TO PROVIDE A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR ANYONE DISSATISFIED WITH OFFICIAL DECISIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS, HE ADDED.

AT PRESENT, HE SAID, MORE THAN 45 600 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THE PAYMENT RATES OF WHICH ARE REVIEWED AND ADJUSTED FROM TIME TO TIME TO MAINTAIN THEIR REAL PURCHASING VALUE.

REFERRING TO PUBLIC DONATIONS MADE TO HARDSHIP FAMILIES, MR LEE STRESSED THAT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS NEVER INTENDED TO BE REPLACED BY DONATIONS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT SINCE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS MEANS-TESTED AND FINANCED BY PUBLIC FUNDS, AND TO ENSURE IT IS PROPERLY ADMINISTERED, THERE IS A NEED FOR SOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA RELATING TO THE APPLICANT'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

GENERALLY, HE SAID, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENT IS ONLY TEMPORARILY PREVENTED WHEN THE TOTAL VALUE OF RESOURCES AMOUNTS TO OVER $2 000 PER MEMBER OF A FAMILY OR $3 000 FOR A SINGLE APPLICANT,

HE SAID SMALL AND IRREGULAR DONATIONS FROM FRIENDS OR RELATIVES ARE IGNORED, ALTHOUGH LARGER DONATIONS, PARTICULARLY THOSE FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD, MAY TEMPORARILY AFFECT PAYMENTS.

+THE AIM IS TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN PUTTING ONE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT AT AN ADVANTAGE OVER ANOTHER, AND AVOIDING STANDING IN THE WAY OF CHARITABLE HELP, HE SAID.

AS REGARDS THE NON-MEANS TESTED SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES SCHEME, MR LEE SAID IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1973, COMPRISING THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE FOR SEVERELY DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR PEOPLE AGED 70 AND OVER.

HE SAID BOTH ALLOWANCES WERE EXTENDED IN 1978 TO COVER ELIGIBLE PERSONS LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS.

TODAY, THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE OF $230 A MONTH IS BEING PAID TO 23 000 PEOPLE, WHILST 145 000 ARE RECEIVING THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE OF $115 A MONTH, HE SAID.

OTHER SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INCLUDE A SCHEME INTRODUCED IN 1973 TO PROVIDE CASH COMPENSATION FOR PEOPLE INJURED OR KILLED IN A CRIME OF VIOLENCE OR THROUGH THE ACTION OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHILST CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES, ANOTHER SCHEME IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR TO GIVE QUICK CASH RELIEF TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THE IR DEPENDANTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY RELIEF IN THE FORM OF CASH GRANTS, COOKED MEALS, BLANKETS, MATS AND OTHER DAILY NECESSITIES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

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