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Social Welfare

Fujian schemes provide monthly OAA to eligible elderly people who choose to live in Guangdong or Fujian respectively. Starting from 1 January 2020, eligible elderly people may also receive the OALA while living in the two provinces.

The SSA Scheme recorded 1,000,517 recipients as at end-2019. Total expenditure was about $34 billion during the year, a 9 per cent decrease over 2018.

Relief Measures

In accordance with the 2019-20 Budget, the government provided one additional month's standard-rate payment to CSSA recipients and one additional month's allowance to recipients of SSA, WFA and the Individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme (1-Wits). Separately, students on CSSA received a one-off grant of $2,500.

On 15 August, the Financial Secretary also announced a series of measures to support enterprises, safeguard jobs and relieve people's burden. The measures included granting one additional month's standard-rate payment to CSSA recipients and one additional month's allowance to recipients of SSA, WFA and I-Wits.

Accident Compensation

The non-means-tested Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme offers financial help to those injured, or to their dependants in the case of death, as a result of a crime of violence or by a law enforcement officer using a weapon in the execution of his duty. It paid out $5.77 million in 2019.

The non-means-tested Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance to people injured in road traffic accidents or to their dependants in the case of death, regardless of who is responsible for the accident. It paid out $289.5 million during the year.

Emergency Relief

Meals or cash in lieu of meals and other necessities are given to victims of natural or other disasters. Grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are paid to eligible victims, or in the case of death to their dependants. Emergency relief was given to 51 victims of six disasters in 2019.

Social Security Appeal Board

The board considers appeals against the department's decisions on CSSA, SSA and Traffic Accident Victims Assistance. It ruled on 353 appeals in 2019.

Funding

Subventions and Service Monitoring

Through the Lump Sum Grant (LSG) Subvention System, 164 NGOs were receiving recurrent subventions as at end-2019 to provide social welfare services according to government policies. NGOs may also seek grants from the Lotteries Fund to meet their non-recurrent commitments.

The department monitors the output, outcome and service quality of subvented service units. by reviewing the NGOs' regular self-assessment reports and conducting review and surprise

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