ENG-1996 — Page 235

SOCIAL WELFARE

term supplement, ranging from $1,435 to $4,305, depending on the size of the household, is paid to those who have received assistance continuously for 12 months to meet the cost of replacing household wares and durable goods. To encourage self- help, an individual's monthly earnings can be disregarded up to a maximum of $1,615 in the calculation of assistance payable. The first month's income of certain categories of recipients (the elderly, disabled and family carers) who manage to obtain full-time jobs can also be disregarded.

Improvements have been implemented since April 1996 after a comprehensive review of the scheme. These include real increases in the standard rates for specific groups of customers, improvements to the provision of special grants for elderly persons and school children, revision of the levels of maximum rent allowance, revision of asset limits, and revision of the level of disregarded earnings. In addition, standard rates and other related payments were also increased by 7 per cent in April to take account of inflation.

At the end of the year, there were 159 100 CSSA cases, compared with 127 800 in 1995. The elderly, the sick and people with a disability made up the majority. The total expenditure during the year amounted to $6.45 billion, representing an increase of 52.4 per cent over the previous year.

The SSA Scheme provides monthly disability and age allowances for severely disabled persons and elderly persons respectively who do not receive CSSA.

A person who is severely disabled within the meaning of the scheme and has resided in Hong Kong for at least one year immediately before application is eligible for a disability allowance, which is non-means-tested. The normal rate is $1,125. A higher rate of $2,250 is payable to severely disabled persons who require constant attendance from others in their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution.

The age allowance is non-means-tested for those aged 70 and above, and they are entitled to $635 a month. For those aged 65 to 69, the monthly allowance is $560, subject to a declaration that their income and assets do not exceed the prescribed levels. To be eligible for an age allowance, a person must have resided in Hong Kong for at least five years since the age of 60. The disability and age allowances were raised by 7 per cent in April to take account of inflation.

At the end of the year, 503 800 people were receiving social security allowances compared with 492 400 at the end of 1995. Total expenditure during the year was $3.9 billion, representing an increase of 10.8 per cent over the previous year.

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, which is non- means-tested, provides cash assistance to victims, or their dependants in case of death, who are injured or killed in crimes of violence or by law enforcement officers using weapons in the execution of their duties.

During the year, 562 applications were approved, with payments amounting to $11.1 million, which was the same as in 1995.

The non-means-tested Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides cash payments to victims of traffic accidents, or their dependants in case of death, regardless of fault. Payments cover personal injury and death, but not damage to property.

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