TNAG-0788-FCO40-992-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-contribut-1978 — Page 133

Part 3: Low income

entitlement: Dental

treatment, glasses, milk and vitamins, prescription charges and hospital fares

In addition to the other exempt categories, mentioned under the individual entries throughout this booklet, anyone aged 16 or over can be given help if their weekly income is no more than a certain amount above the supplementary benefits level of requirements, as follows:

£2-50 for dental and optical charges;

50p for prescription charges; and

£2.50 (plus the cost of 7 pints of milk or 14 pints if claiming for two people) for milk and vitamins.

Help can be given even if the claimant is in full-time work.

Partial help with charges for dental treatment or glasses can be given where income is in excess of the limits mentioned above, provided that the charge to be met is more than three times the amount of the excess.

To see whether or not help can be given it is therefore necessary to work out the total income and compare it with the supplementary benefit level of requirements. Using the following lists it should be possible to assess whether or not there may be entitlement to help.

Weekly income

Add together any income in the following list:

Claimants own net earnings* from any full or part-time work LESS £4 (£6 for a single parent) and any travelling or other expenses.

Wife's net earnings* from any full or part-time work LESS £4 and any travelling or other expenses

One third of any money received from boarders (treated as earnings-LESS £4 unless £4 has already been deducted above)

Claimant's pension

Wife's pension

Child benefit (Family allowances)

Any other social security benefit (excluding Disability pensions) paid to claimant or wife

Maintenance payments

Rent from any sub-tenants

Any other regular income except an occupational pension LESS £4

Occupational pension

LESS £1 (do not deduct £1 if £4 has already been deducted from "Any other regular income")

*Earnings after the deduction of any income tax, national insurance contributions and superannuation contributions. If earnings vary, use the average.

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