ENG-1979 — Page 163

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SOCIAL WELFARE

scheme for more than 12 months. In addition, supplementary assistance is available for rent, school expenses, special diets and other essential expenses.

In order to promote self-help, recipients who are not expected to seek work as a condition of receiving public assistance may retain their marginal earnings up to $150 a month. Any earnings exceeding $250 a month are taken into account in assessing entitlement for public assistance. At the end of 1979, the number of active public assistance cases was 46,114 compared with 47,150 in 1978. Expenditure on public assistance for the 1978-9 financial year totalled $191.2 million.

The Special Needs Allowance Scheme provides a cash allowance on top of the public assistance payment to the severely disabled or elderly infirm aged 70 years or more. On September 1, 1979, the disability allowance was increased to $230 a month and the old age allowance to $115 a month. These allowances are non-means-tested and non-contribu- tory. The number of people drawing disability and old age allowances at the end of the year was 166,321 compared with 149,189 at the end of 1978. Expenditure in the 1978–9 financial year totalled $157.7 million, an increase of $57.9 million over the previous year. To prevent abuse, a special team investigates suspected fraudulent and overpayment cases. During 1979, the team completed the investigation of 153 cases, some of which were referred to the Attorney General for possible prosecution.

The Social Security Appeal Board, which considers individual appeals against the deci- sions of the Director of Social Welfare regarding social security payments, heard a total of 42 cases during the year. Of these, 28 were public assistance cases, 11 were special needs allowance cases, and three were related to the new Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme.

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides ex-gratia compensation to those injured in crimes of violence or through the action of law enforce- ment officers in the execution of their duties. Decisions on claims are made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board, whose members are appointed by the Governor. In the 1978–9 financial year, payments totalling $0.9 million were made, compared with $1.4 million in 1977-8.

In May, 1979, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme came into operation. The scheme is administered by the Social Welfare Department, and is financed by levies on vehicle and driving licences and from general revenue. An advisory committee, whose members are appointed by the Governor, gives advice and guidance on the operation of the scheme and on the administration of the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund. Under the scheme, traffic accident victims or their dependants are given cash grants regard- less of whether the victim was at fault in causing the accident. Such payments do not affect the applicant's right to make other claims for legal damages but, if he subsequently receives damages or other compensation because of the accident, he will be required to refund the payments received from the scheme. During the year, a total of $7.1 million was paid to 2,763 beneficiaries.

Two important social security proposals in the White Paper on Social Welfare into the 1980s will be introduced in 1980. They are the disability supplement under the Public Assistance Scheme and the extension of the non-means-tested disability allowance to the profoundly deaf under the Special Needs Allowance Scheme.

Rehabilitating the Disabled

The Social Welfare Department and voluntary agencies provide social and vocational re- habilitation services to enable disabled people to develop their capabilities to the fullest