XN000022-1986-01-18 — Page 2

J

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1986

MORE APPEAL OVER DISABILITY ALLOWANCE

****

THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD RECEIVED 69 APPEALS AGAINST THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S DECISION ON ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN THE YEAR 1984-85, ACCORDING TO THE BOARD'S ANNUAL REPORT.

THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF SIX APPEALS (9.5 PER CENT) WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURES FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR.

THE REPORT SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE APPEALS RELATED TO DISABILITY ALLOWANCE, ACCOUNTING FOR 52 CASES.

THE OTHERS WERE CONNECTED WITH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE.

THE BOARD, COMPRISING FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSIDERING APPEALS FROM THE PUBLIC IN RESPECT OF SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS.

SEVENTY APPEALS WERE HEARD DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING 17 BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR.

THE BOARD CONFIRMED THE DECISIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN 39 CASES AND VARIED THEM IN 31 CASES.

THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS CONTINUED TO BE ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLES OF THE BOARD.

+THESE COMPLAINTS DO NOT NECESSARILY BECOME APPEALS BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS OF SOME OF THE COMPLAINANTS MAY BE SOLVED AFTER EXPLANATION BY THE STAFF OF THE BOARD OR BY A REVIEW OF THE CASE BY A SENIOR STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT,+ THE REPORT SAID.

DURING THE YEAR, 161 COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED AS AGAINST 142 IN THE PRECEDING YEAR. OF THESE, 95 WERE SETTLED, SEVEN WERE REFERRED FOR ACTION WHILE 59 EVENTUALLY BECAME APPEALS.

THE BOARD ALSO MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS AIMED AT IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES.

IT NOTED THAT UNDER THE CURRENT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AN ABLE-BODIED UNEMPLOYED PERSON HAS TO REGISTER AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND CALL AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT IN PERSON EVERY MONTH TO DECLARE HIS EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR CASH ASSISTANCE.

SUCH REQUIREMENTS CAN BY RELAXED FOR THOSE AGED BETWEEN 55 TO 59, THE BOARD SUGGESTED. FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REPORT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT ONCE EVERY MONTH TO DECLARE THE IR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, THEY MIGHT ONLY BE REQUIRED TO CALL AT THE OFFICE ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS.

/IT WAS