ENG-2001 — Page 248

SOCIAL WELFARE

centres. All child care centres have to register under the Child Care Services Ordinance and Regulations. The fee assistance scheme helps low-income families with social needs to pay fees for child care centres.

Social Security

The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme form the mainstay of Hong Kong's social security. system. They are supplemented by three accident compensation schemes: the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Scheme and Emergency Relief.

The CSSA Scheme

The CSSA Scheme is non-contributory but means-tested. It aims to provide cash assistance to people suffering from financial hardship to meet basic livelihood needs. Applicants should satisfy the residence requirement. Employable CSSA applicants are required to actively seek work by joining the Support for Self-reliance (SFS) Scheme. The amount of CSSA is determined by the applicant's resources and needs. The difference between the applicant's assessable income and the total recognised needs under the scheme is the amount of assistance payable.

To help able-bodied unemployed CSSA recipients and other socially disadvantaged groups overcome barriers to work and become self-reliant, the department has implemented a comprehensive package of employment-related services (see Major Achievements, above).

Elderly CSSA recipients who have received assistance continuously for three years are allowed to continue to receive their monthly standard rate payment and annual long-term supplement if they choose to retire to Guangdong Province.

At the end of the year, there were 241 673 CSSA cases, compared with 228 060 in 2000. Total expenditure during the year amounted to $14.09 billion, representing an increase of 7 per cent over the previous year.

The SSA Scheme

The non-contributory SSA Scheme provides allowances to meet the special needs of the severely disabled and elderly persons. There are four allowances:

•

Normal Disability Allowance

per cent loss of earning capacity.

for severely disabled persons with a certified 100

Higher Disability Allowance for 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 or medical residential institution under the Hospital Authority.

• Normal Old Age Allowance for persons aged 65 to 69 with income and assets not exceeding the prescribed levels.

192

•

Higher Old Age Allowance for persons aged 70 or above.

At the end of the year, 559 399 people were receiving social security allowances, compared with 547 652 in 2000. Total expenditure during the year was $5.21 billion, representing an increase of 5.3 per cent over the previous year.