XN000022-1982-01-04 — Page 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1982

35 PER CENT RISE IN EMERGENCY PAYMENT RATES

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PAYMENT RATES UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS TO PEOPLE IN NEED OF RELIEF AS A RESULT OF FIRES, STORMS, FLOODING AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS, HAVE BEEN RAISED BY ABOUT 35 PER CENT.

THE NEW RATES APPLY ALSO TO THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME AS THEIR SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS IS BASED ON THAT OF THE FUND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATES CAME INTO EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 23, 1981.

+THE REVISION REPRESENTS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE LEVEL OF PAYMENT BASED MAINLY ON AVERAGE WAGES, HE SAID. + IT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO REFLECT INCREASE IN PRICES.

UNDER THE FUND, DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO COVER DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY, DOMESTIC RE-ACCOMMODATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT EXPENSES, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF VESSELS, LOSS OF CROPS, LIVESTOCK OR FISH STOCK, AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.

UNDER THE REVISED RATES, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR DEATH GRANTS INVOLVING THE LOSS OF SOLE WAGE-EARNERS HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $23 000 TO $26 700, COMPRISING $18 700 FOR ONE SURVIVING DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER AND $1 600 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL SURVIVING DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBER.

FOR LOSS OF A WAGE-EARNER WHERE THERE ARE OTHER WAGE-EARNERS IN THE FAMILY, THE MAXIMUM GRANT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $16 200 TO $17 400.

IN THE CASE OF THE LOSS OF HUSBAND OR WIFE WHO IS NOT A WAGE-EARNER WHERE THERE ARE CHILDREN, THE MAXIMUM GRANT HAS ALSO GONE UP FROM $16 200 TO $17 400.

BURIAL GRANTS HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM $1 600 TO $3 000 A PERSON.

THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF DISABILITY GRANTS HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $16 500 TO $22 440. FOR INJURY GRANTS, THE NEW PAYMENT RATE IS $160 UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $7 080 DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF THE INJURY. PREVIOUSLY, THE MAXIMUM WAS $4 960.

THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IS MANAGED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, WHO ACTS ON THE ADVICE OF THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE, COMPRISING BOTH UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS.

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