ENG-2016 — Page 220

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Social Welfare

Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities

A new Pilot Scheme on Living Allowance for Low-income Carers of Persons with Disabilities aims to provide 2,000 such carers with a living allowance to supplement their expenses so persons with disabilities in need of long-term care may, with their carers' help, receive proper care and remain living in the community. The scheme was rolled out under the Community Care Fund in October.

Recipients with Disabilities under Comprehensive Social Security Assistance

A new Pilot Scheme on Raising the Maximum Level of Disregarded Earnings for Recipients with Disabilities under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme encourages persons with disabilities to secure and stay in employment by raising the maximum level of disregarded earnings applicable to them under the CSSA Scheme. The scheme was launched under the Community Care Fund in October, raising the ceiling of disregarded earnings by 60 per cent from $2,500 to $4,000. It will last for three years and is expected to benefit about 3,000 people.

Higher Disability Allowance Recipients in Paid Employment

A new Pilot Scheme on Providing Subsidy for Higher Disability Allowance Recipients in Paid Employment to Hire Carers gives $5,000 a month to each eligible Higher Disability Allowance recipient engaged in paid employment to hire a carer to help with the commute and with the person's activities in the workplace. The scheme was introduced under the Community Care Fund in October. It will last for three years and is expected to benefit about 100 people.

Services for Offenders

The department performs a number of statutory functions and helps offenders reintegrate into the community and become law-abiding citizens through community-based and residential services.

During the year, the department helped 3,148 offenders through a probation service and arranged for 2,395 offenders placed on community service orders to perform unpaid community work under supervision. Probation officers assess and report to the courts on offenders' suitability for probation orders and/or community service orders, and supervise those under the orders. The officers also prepare reports on long-term prisoners and petitioners being considered for early release.

The Enhanced Probation Service adopts a more focused, structured and intensive approach to help convicted young drug offenders aged below 21.

The Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home, with 388 places, offers educational, pre-vocational and character training for juvenile offenders as well as children and young people with behavioural and/or family problems.

The Correctional Services Department and the SWD jointly run a Young Offender Assessment Panel, providing the courts with professional views on sentencing options for offenders aged 14 to 25, and a Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme, which helped 850 discharged

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