XN000022-1981-12-10 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1981

SOCIAL SECURITY CRITERIA

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ALL RECIPIENTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS MUST BE KEPT FULLY AWARE OF THE CRITERIA RELATED TO THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO THE ASSISTANCE OR ALLOWANCE DURING THEIR TEMPORARY ABSENCE FROM HONG KO..G.

THIS IS NECESSARY TO FURTHER MINIMISE THE POSSIBILITY OF DISPUTE CAUSED BY OVERPAYMENT AND TO SAFEGUARD THE RECIPIENTS' BENEFITS.

THIS IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS MADE BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD ON APPEAL CASES IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1980/81.

THE BOARD IS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT SINCE AUGUST 1, 1980, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS ADOPTED AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATMENT UNDER WHICH THE ABSENCE ALLOWANCE WILL BE GIVEN TO ALL CASES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE ABSENCE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ADVANCE.

REFERRING TO TRAVELLING EXPENSES FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPLICANTS FOR ATTENDING OFFICE INTERVIEWS, THE BOA D CONSIDERS IT +APPROPRIATE FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO RE IMBURSE THE TRAVELLING EXPENSES INCURRED IN SUCH A WAY.+

ON PAYMENT THROUGH AUTO-PAY, THE BOARD NOTES THAT FROM APRIL 1, 1981, EVERY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PAY DATE WHEN HE IS NOTIFIED OF THE RESULT OF HIS APPLICATION.

IT IS THE PRACTICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE PAY DATE UNCHANGED LONG AS POSSIBLE.

+BUT THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY BE CHANGED AFTER THE CASE IS REVIEWED, THE BOARD SAYS.

+ IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO KEEP THE APPLICANT ALSO INFORMED OF ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGES OF THE PAY DATE IN FUTURE SO AS NOT TO CAUSE HIM ANY MISUNDERSTANDING AND ANXIETY.+

OTHER OBSERVATIONS MADE BY THE BOARD INCLUDE:

* APPLICANTS FOR DISABILITY ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE HELP TO

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE MEANING OF SEVERE DISABILITY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT ONCE THEY ARE MEDICALLY ASSESSED AS

INELIGIBLE.

*

TO AVOID UNDUE HARDSHIP TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS IN CASES WHERE REVIEWS ARE NOT COMPLETED IN TIME, IT SEEMS NECESSARY FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO PAY THEM CASH DIRECT FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AS PAYMENT OF THE IR ENTITLEMENT ALREADY OR LIKELY TO BE DELAYED.

DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, 104 COMPLAINTS WERE LODGED WITH THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD, REFLECTING AN INCREASE OF 26.8 PER CE! WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING YEAR.

/OUT OF

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