XN000022-1994-09-21 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1994

3

SOC AL SECURITY PACKAGE FOR NEEDY'

* * *

SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS MAY APPLY TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR SPECIAL GRANTS ON TOP OF THE MONTHLY STANDARD RATE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SPECIAL GRANTS, LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT AND FREE MEDICAL SERVICE WERE OFFERED TO THE RECIPIENTS IN NEED UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE (OSSA) SCHEME.

THE SCHEME, WHICH 19 ONE OF

OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES CASH ALLOWANCE TO BRING THE INCOME OF NEEDY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES UP TO A PRESCRIBED LEVEL SO THAT THEIR BASIC AND SPECIAL NEEDS CAN BE MET.

"A GENERAL MISCONCEPTION IS THAT A SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENT ONLY RECEIVES A MONTHLY STANDARD RATE RANGING FROM $965 FOR AN ADULT IN A FAMILY TO $3,400 FOR A SINGLE DISABLED CHILD IN NEED OF CONSTANT ATTENDANCE.

"IN FACT, SPECIAL GRANTS, SUCH AS RENT ALLOWANCE AND SCHOOL RELATED EXPENSES, WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO A SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENT IN NEED OF SUCH ASSISTANCE.

"IN ADDITION, ALL SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS ARE ENTITLED то FREE MEDICAL SERVICE AT ALL PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WHILE THE STANDARD RATE COVERS BASIC NEEDS, SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING, AND FUEL AND LIGHT, THE RENT ALLOWANCE IS PAYABLE TO COVER ACTUAL RENT UP TO A PRESCRIBED CEILING, CURRENTLY AT $1,118 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND $3,420 FOR A FAMILY OF SIX, HE SAID.

SPECIAL GRANTS ARE GIVEN ON A MONTHLY OR ONE-OFF BASIS TO COVER THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, SUCH AS TRAVELLING TO SCHOOLS OR PLACES OF WORK, SCHOOL-RELATED EXPENSES, TELEPHONE CHARGES, NURSERY FEES, AND EVEN DENTAL FILLINGS.

1

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE CSSA CONTINUOUSLY FOR 12 MONTHS, AN ANNUAL LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT IS GIVEN TO MEET THE EXTRA COSTS INCURRED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. AT PRESENT THE RATES ARE $1,235 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, $2,470 FOR A FAMILY OF TWO TO FOUR, AND $3,705 FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE OR MORE MEMBERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A VIDEO ON VARIOUS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WAS BROADCAST REGULARLY AT ALL SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

FURTHERMORE, A HANDBOOK ON THE RIGHTS OF CSSA CUSTOMERS IS PLACED AT ALL FIELD UNITS FOR PUBLIC REFERENCE. WITH DETAILS OF THE USSA SCHEME, INCLUDING THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, APPLICATION PROCEDURES, TYPES OF PAYMENT, ASSISTANCE RATES AND ABSENCE RULE, THE HANDBOOK IS A USEFUL GUIDE FOR POTENTIAL AND EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS.

·

/THE SPOKESNA

I