XN000022-1986-01-18 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1986

IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE DISPUTES AROSE OVER THE AMOUNT OF OVERPAYMENT TO BE RECOVERED. THE BOARD SAW A NEED FOR THE STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO GIVE, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, DETAILED EXPLANATIONS TO APPLICANTS ON THE CAUSE OF OVERPAYMENT AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATION BEFORE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO ASK FOR A REFUND.

ACCORDING TO EXISTING POLICY, THE PAYMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE ALWAYS COMMENCES ON THE DATE OF APPLICATION.

IN ORDER TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS, THE BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD INCLUDE A CLAUSE IN THE PAMPHLET ENTITLED THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE SCHEME TO SPECIFY THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE ALLOWANCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED THE SUGGESTIONS MADE AND THAT ACTION HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN. BEGINNING FROM OCTOBER 1985, THOSE ABLE- BODIED UNEMPLOYED APPLICANTS AGED BETWEEN 56 TO 59, WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS AND STILL REMAINED UNEMPLOYED, NEED TO REPORT TO THE FIELD UNIT ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS INSTEAD OF EVERY MONTH.

AS REGARD TO OVERPAYMENT CASES, THE STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GIVE DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF THE CAUSE OF OVERPAYMENT AND THE METHOD OF CALCULATION TO THE APPLICANTS.

ALSO, THE PAMPHLET ENTITLED +SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE SCHEME+ HAS BEEN REVISED RECENTLY TO INCLUDE A CLAUSE SPECIFYING THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE PAYMENT OF AN ALLOWANCE.

APPEALS CAN BE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF THE APPEAL BOARD AT 7TH FLOOR, PACIFIC HOUSE, 20-20B QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, OR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT WORLD TRADE CENTRE 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, OR THE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION AT 15 WATSON ROAD, 1ST FLOOR, VICTORIA CENTRE, CAUSEWAY BAY, OR AT ANY OF ITS 31 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS.

VALUE OF HALFWAY HOUSES STRESSED

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HALFWAY HOUSES PROVIDE A FAVOURABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS AND HELP TO PREVENT RELAPSE, MR LOK MAN-PAN, REGIONAL OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE WONG TAI SIN-SAI KUNG JOINT EXHIBITION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES, MR LOK SAID THAT SOME EX-MENTAL PATIENTS REQUIRED HELP IN RE-INTEGRATING INTO SOCIETY, AND SHOULD NOT BE SENT STRAIGHT BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE IR PROBLEMS DEVELOPED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

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