XN000022-1987-12-27 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1987

SIMULTANEOUSLY, A THIRD RATE OF LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT OF $1,935 WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FAMILIES COMPRISING FIVE OR MORE MEMBERS.

A LONG TERM SUPPLEMENT IS PAYABLE TO A FAMILY OR A SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DURABLE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND SIMILAR EXPENDITURE.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE TWO RATES, ONE OF $1,290 FOR A FAMILY REGARDLESS OF SIZE AND ANOTHER OF $645 FOR A SINGLE PERSON.

"THE NEW THIRD RATE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED IN RECOGNITION THAT THE LARGER FAMILIES NEED TO ACQUIRE AND REPLACE MORE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAN THE AVERAGE SIZED FAMILY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT INVOLVES THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION.

TO ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP, CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WHO ARE EARNING BUT CANNOT BE EXPECTED ΤΟ SEEK FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISABLED, ELDERLY, SINGLE PARENTS, CAN HAVE A PORTION OF THEIR INCOME DISREGARDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

STARTING FROM JANUARY 1. THE MAXIMUM LEVEL OF DISREGARDED INCOME WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE CURRENT LEVEL OF $255 ΤΟ $385 PER MONTH.

FOR THE SAME REASON, THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION WILL ALSO BE EXTENDED TO ABLE-BODIED PERSONS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND IN REGULAR EMPLOYMENT AND THE MAXIMUM LEVEL WILL ALSO BE $385.

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"THIS WILL ENABLE A MEMBER OF A FAMILY ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BE NO WORSE-OFF EMPLOYED THAN WHEN UNEMPLOYED, BY MAKING ALLOWANCES FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH GOING TO WORK, SUCH AS THE PURCHASE OF SUITABLE CLOTHING AND MEALS TAKEN AWAY FROM HOME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

ON THE SAME BASIS, CHILDREN OF FAMILIES ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ATTENDING FULL-DAY SCHOOL AND TAKING MEALS AWAY FROM HOME WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A MEAL ALLOWANCE OF $80 PER MONTH.

AT PRESENT, A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENT IS ALLOWED A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ASSETS CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CATEGORIES, NAMELY CASH AND READILY REALISABLE ASSETS: REAL PROPERTY NOT OCCUPIED BY THE RECIPIENT; AND VALUABLE POSSESSIONS.

AS THE LINE BETWEEN "CASH AND READILY REALISABLE ASSETS" "VALUABLE POSSESSIONS" IS RATHER BLURRED, THEY INTO A SINGLE CATEGORY.

WILL BE

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CONSOLIDATED

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