XN000022-1980-04-01 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1980

IMPROVED SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FROM TODAY

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TWO SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE IMPLEMENTED FROM TODAY (APRIL 1) TO PROVIDE EXTRA SUPPORT TO THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF AND THE PARTIALLY DISABLED.

THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE IS NOW EXTENDED TO COVER THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF, AND A DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT IS INTRODUCED UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR THE PARTIALLY DISABLED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID APPLICATIONS MAY BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS, AND IN ORDER TO FACILITATE PROCESSING, APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO APPLY IN WRITING.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, AT $230, AND THE DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT, AT $115 A MONTH, BOTH NON-CONTRIBUTORY, ARE PAYABLE ON TOP OF ANY NORMAL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENT.

HE SAID THE NON-MEANS-TESTED DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, COVERS THOSE PROFOUNDLY DEAF PERSONS WITH A HEARING LOSS OF 85 DECIBELS OR MORE, OR OF 75 TO 85 DECIBELS BUT WITH OTHER PHYSICAL HANDICAPS INCLUDING LACK OF SPEECH.

AS TO THE DISABILITY SUPPLEMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS PAYABLE TO THE PARTIALLY DISABLED WHO ARE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS,

THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY RECEIVING AN OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT UNDER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OR A SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE AS THESE PAYMENTS ARE INTENDED TO COVER SIMILAR NEEDS, HE SAID.

PARTIAL DISABILITY, HE EXPLAINED, MEANS A 50 PER CENT OR MORE LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY AS DEFINED IN THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, OR A MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CONDITION MEDICALLY CERTIFIED AS BEING BROADLY EQUIVALENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE TWO SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $8.9 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, AND WOULD BENEFIT AN ESTIMATED 3 800 PROFOUNDLY DEAF PEOPLE AND 1 000 PARTIALLY DISABLED PEOPLE.

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