XN000022-1993-04-13 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1993

PAMPHLETS ON NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME PUBLISHED

A PAMPHLET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED TO INTRODUCE DETAILS OF A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH WILL COME INTO OPERATION IN JULY, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

"COPIES OF THE PAMPHLET ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM ALL SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION,' THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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THE NEW SCHEME WOULD ENSURE THAT THOSE IN NEED WOULD RECEIVE MORE ASSISTANCE, AS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY SPEECH LAST OCTOBER, HE SAID.

PAYMENTS TO RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES HAVE BEEN RAISED FOLLOWING A NINE PER CENT REVISION THIS MONTH.

"UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, THE MONTHLY PAYMENT TO ALL CLIENTS IN GENERAL WILL BE IMPROVED IN REAL TERMS BY BETWEEN FOUR PER CENT AND 37 PER CENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THAT WOULD BE ABOVE THE REGULAR ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION, HE

STRESSED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SUPPLEMENTS AND SPECIAL GRANTS WOULD BB INCREASED BY THE ANNUAL INFLATION RATE.

AS REGARDS SPECIAL GRANTS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY THE AMOUNT ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANTS' NEEDS, INCLUDING SCHOOL FEES, TEXT BOOKS, DENTURES AND GLASSES," HE SAID.

AT PRESENT, ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING TWO SEPARATE PAYMENTS ON DIFFERENT DAYS AT BANKS AND POST OFFICES.

HE SAID THE PRACTICE HAD CAUSED INCONVENIENCE TO THEM.

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"UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, THE PRACTICE WILL ВЕ STREAMLINED, GRANTING ONE STANDARD RATE PAYMENT то OUR CLIENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE ANY QUERIES ON THE NEW SCHEME MAY APPROACH THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR CALL THE DEPARTMENT'S HOTLINE 343 2255.

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