ENG-2011 — Page 251

Social Welfare | 211

New Dawn Project to help single parents and child carers on CSSA, whose youngest child is aged between 12 and 14, move towards self-reliance by engagement in employment. NGOs provide employment assistance services to project participants to enhance their employability. At year-end, 24 473 people had participated in the project.

The SWD commissioned NGOs to operate a 15-month extension of the IEAS, My STEP and the New Dawn Project from October 2011.

The SSA Scheme

The non-contributory SSA Scheme provides cash allowances to meet the special needs of elders and persons with severe disabilities. It comprises Normal Old Age Allowance, Higher Old Age Allowance, Normal Disability Allowance and Higher Disability Allowance. At year-end, 643 364 people were receiving SSA. The scheme's. total expenditure in the year was $8.82 billion, an increase of 6.4 per cent over the previous year.

Accident Compensation Schemes

The CLEIC Scheme offers financial assistance on a non-means-tested basis to people (or to their dependants in case of death) who are injured as a result of a crime of violence, or by a law enforcement officer using a weapon in the execution of his duty. In 2011, $5.63 million was paid out under the scheme. The TAVA Scheme provides financial assistance to people injured (or to their dependants in case of death) in road traffic accidents on a non-means-tested basis regardless of who is responsible for the accident. During the year, $171.2 million was paid out under the scheme.

Emergency Relief

Emergency relief in the form of meals or cash-in-lieu of meals and other necessities is given to victims of natural or other disasters. Grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are paid to eligible victims or 'in case of death' to their dependants. Emergency relief was given to 638 victims of 12 disasters during the year.

Social Security Appeal Board

The Social Security Appeal Board considers appeals against the SWD's decisions on CSSA, SSA and TAVA issues. The board ruled on 415 appeals during the year.

Prevention of Fraud and Abuse

To preserve the integrity of the social security system and ensure the proper use of public funds, the SWD's Special Investigation Section continues to prevent and combat fraud and abuse of social security assistance. A special hotline is in place for the public to make reports. In addition, to promote community education and the law-abiding spirit, anti-fraud information panels displaying fraud-related prosecution figures and court news have been installed in the SWD's frontline offices. At year- end, 194 abusers had been jailed, bound over, ordered to perform community service, fined, or given warnings.