ENG-1980 — Page 169

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SOCIAL WELFARE

An annual long-term supplement of $700 for a family, and $355 for a single person, is given to those who have relied on public assistance for not less than 12 months. The scheme also provides supplementary grants for rent, school expenses, special diets and other essential requirements.

To encourage self-help, recipients who are not expected to seek work as a condition of their public assistance grant may retain any marginal earnings up to $150 a month. However, any earnings in excess of $250 a month are taken into account in assessing public assistance entitlements. At the end of 1980, the number of active public assistance cases was 45,664 compared with 46,114 in 1979. Expenditure on public assistance for the 1979-80 financial year totalled $193.3 million.

The Special Needs Allowance Scheme provides a cash allowance, in addition to public assistance, to people who are severely disabled or aged 70 years or more. These allowances are non-means-tested and non-contributory but there is a residence qualification of five years for those claiming the old age allowance, and one year for those claiming the dis- ability allowance. The number of people drawing disability and old age allowances at the end of the year was 183,366 compared with 166,321 at the end of 1979. Expenditure in the 1979-80 financial year was $236.9 million, an increase of $79.2 million over the previous year.

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides ex-gratia payments to those injured in crimes of violence or through the action of law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties. The scheme is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board. During 1980, compensation under this scheme amounted to $1.28 million, compared with $1.1 million the previous year.

The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides immediate financial help to traffic accident victims or their dependents, regardless of who was at fault in causing the accident. The scheme does not affect the applicant's right to make other-legal claims, however, those who subsequently receive damages or other compensation in respect of the same accident, must refund the compensation they have received under this scheme. Altogether, 2,247 people received aid totalling $17.1 million in 1980, compared with the 2,763 people who received $6.7 million during the period from May to December, 1979, when the scheme was introduced.

For those who are affected by disasters, emergency relief is given in the form of hot meals, blankets and other essential requirements. In addition, injury, burial and death grants are paid from the Emergency Relief Fund to victims or their families.

To prevent abuse of welfare assistance, a special team investigates cases of suspected fraud or over-payment. During the year, the team completed investigations in 112 cases, some of which were referred to the Attorney General for possible prosecution.

The Social Security Appeal Board, which considers individual appeals against the decisions of the Director of Social Welfare regarding social security payments, heard 58 cases during the year.

Aid for Probationers

The services for criminal offenders programme gives effect to the directions of the courts on the treatment of offenders by social work methods, with the aim of reintegrating them into the community. These services include probation supervision (operated through probation offices established in each magistracy or higher court building), a remand home service, residential training in correctional institutions and after-care.