TNAG-0788-FCO40-992-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-contribut-1978 — Page 127

extent that their resources (if any) fall short of their requirements. It can supplement other state benefits or private resources.

Supplementary pension is payable to people over state pension age (65 for a man, 60 for a woman).

Supplementary allowance is payable to people below state pension age.

Conditions

Claimants who are under state pension age and fit for work may have to register for work at an Employment Office as a condition for getting benefit.

How benefit is worked out

The amount of supplementary benefit payable is worked out by taking a claimant's "requirements" (ie what he needs) and deducting from these his "resources" (ie what he is already receiving).

The "requirements" and "resources" of a married couple in the same household and those of any dependent children living with them, are counted together. Only the husband can claim in these circumstances.

A couple who, although not married, are living together as husband and wife are normally treated as if they were married.

Requirements

A person's "requirements" are made up of the appropriate scale rate(s) from the table below plus an addition for rent plus any special additions to which the claimant has entitlement. Where a claimant is entitled to attendance allowance the "requirement" is increased by the amount of attendance allowance payable.

Calculation of requirements:

Weekly Scales

Ordinary scale

Long-term scales* Claimant Claimant (and wife) or wife 80 under 80

or over

Married couple

£23.55

£28.35

£28.60

Single householder

£14.50

£17.90

£18.15

Any other person

18 or over

£11.60

£14-35

£14.60

16 to 17

£8.90

Dependent child

13 to 15

£7.40

11 to 12

£6.10

5 to 10

£4.95

under 5

£4.10

Blind people

married couple

one blind

£24.80

£29.60

£29.85

both blind

£25.60

£30-40

£30.65

single person

18 or over

£15.75

£19.15

£19.40

16 to 17

£9.80

* The long-term scale rates apply to (a) supplementary pensions and (b) people under pension age, except the unemployed, who have received supplementary benefit for a continuous period of two years or more. These higher scale rates include a margin of 50p (75p for the over 80 rate) towards special additions (see page 32).

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