TNAG-0788-FCO40-992-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-contribut-1978 — Page 109

or patients with low income who are attending NHS hospitals, can claim a refund of their fares when they:

attend for out-patient treatment; or

are admitted as in-patients; or

are discharged after in-patient treatment.

Their dependants can also claim as can other patients who qualify because of low income. If an escort is medically necessary the fares of a friend or relative can also be refunded.

See "Low income entitlement" on page 37.

How to claim

Patients who are receiving supplementary benefit or family income sup- plement can obtain a refund if they produce their order book to the hospital. If they do not have an order book they should apply to their local social security office as should patients who qualify because of low income.

Further information: Leaflet H11 (includes claim form) from hospitals and social security offices.

Visitors

In exceptional circumstances a person who has to visit a close relative in hospital may get help with fares.

Further information: From local social security offices.

Industrial injury benefit

Industrial injury benefit is paid when an employee is unable to work as a result of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease.

The conditions

Injury benefit can only be paid for incapacity for work due to an industrial accident or prescribed industrial disease during the period of 26 weeks from the date of the accident or development of the disease.

If there is entitlement to any national insurance benefit (sickness or invalidity benefit or retirement or widow's pension) that benefit is reduced by the amount of injury benefit.

There are no contribution conditions for benefit.

Amounts payable

The weekly rates are:

adults

£17-45

people aged 16 and under 18 £14-70

Anyone who is entitled to an increase for a dependant is paid the adult rate. There are special rates for children under age 16.

Earnings-related supplement (page 9) may also be payable if sickness benefit would have been payable but for payment of injury benefit.

Increases payable weekly for dependants are:

wife/adult dependant

first child

13

each other child

£9.10

£3.50; and

£2.20 for each child from

£3.00

April 1978 when child benefit is increased.