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The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in March showed a marginal decrease of 123 cases, which translated into an insignificant month-to-month decreasing rate of 0.04% when compared with the figure in February, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (April 11).
Total CSSA caseload at the end of March stood at 297,434 (see attached table), with a total of 538,007 recipients.
Analysed by case nature, unemployment cases showed a continued month-to-month decrease of 0.8% in March to 40,658.
Single parent cases also registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.1% in March to 39,497, the seventh consecutive month to record a decrease.
Low earning cases continued to rise slightly in March by 0.5% to stand at 18,237.
Total government expenditure on CSSA payments was $17.6 billion for 2004-05.
Ends/Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:02
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