ENG-1997 — Page 232

SOCIAL WELFARE

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assistance. This is achieved through a non-contributory social security system administered by the SWD. The mainstay of the system is the CSSA Scheme and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme, supplemented by three other schemes: the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme and Emergency Relief.

The CSSA Scheme is means-tested and is designed to bring the income of needy individuals and families up to a level where basic and special needs can be met. It comprises a range of monthly standard rates to meet the basic needs of different categories of eligible people. Rates range from $1,720 to $4,455 for a single person and from $1,535 to $4,115 for a family member. A wide range of special grants caters for recipients' special needs, such as rent, educational expenses, medically recommended diets, glasses, dentures and burials. An annual long-term supplement, ranging from $1,530 to $4,305 depending on the size of the household, is paid to those who have received assistance continuously for 12 months to help replace household and durable goods, and a monthly supplement of $245 is paid to single parents to counter the difficulties they face in bringing up a family. To encourage self-help, an individual's monthly earnings can be disregarded up to a maximum of $1,720 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. The standard rates and other related payments were increased by 6.5 per cent in April 1997 to take account of inflation.

At the end of the year, there were 188 800 CSSA cases, compared with 159 100 in 1996. The elderly and the sick made up the majority. Total expenditure during the year amounted to $8.73 billion, representing an increase of 35.3 per cent over the previous year.

The SSA Scheme comprises Disability Allowance and Old Age Allowance Schemes. It provides flat-rate allowances to meet the special needs of the severely disabled and the elderly persons who are not eligible for comprehensive social security assistance. A person who suffers a severe disability broadly equivalent to a total loss of earning capacity and has resided in Hong Kong for at least one year immediately before application is eligible for a disability allowance, which is not means-tested. The normal rate is $1,200. A higher rate of $2,400 is payable to severely disabled persons requiring constant attendance from others but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution or a medical institution under the Hospital Authority.

The old age allowance is non-means-tested for those aged 70 and above, who are entitled to $675 a month. For those aged 65 to 69, the monthly allowance is $595, subject to a declaration that their income and assets do not exceed the prescribed levels. To be eligible for an old age allowance, a person must have resided in Hong Kong for at least five years since the age of 60. The levels of allowance were raised by 6.5 per cent in April 1997 to take account of inflation.

At the end of the year, 520 600 people were receiving social security allowances, compared with 503 800 at the end of 1996. Total expenditure during the year was $4.26 billion, representing an increase of 9.2 per cent over the previous year.

The non-means-tested Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides cash assistance to victims, or their dependants in cases of death,