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Following is a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, to a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance and Old Age Allowance applications in the Legislative Council today (December 17):
Question:
Quite a number of members of the public have relayed to me that when applying for Old Age Allowances ("OAAs"), commonly known as "fruit grant", or assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme ("CSSA"), they encountered great difficulties and even had their applications rejected because they failed to produce address proofs (e.g. because they were living at their relatives' places) or bank account particulars (e.g. because the banks refused to open an account for them as they have criminal records). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of OAA and CSSA applications rejected last year on grounds of the applicants' failure to produce address proofs and bank account particulars; and
(b) whether the Government will make other arrangements, such as waiving the relevant requirements, for applicants who are eligible for OAAs or CSSA but unable to produce address proofs or bank account particulars?
Reply:
President,
The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to bring the income of needy individuals and families up to a prescribed level to meet their basic needs. The objective of the Old Age Allowance (OAA) under the Social Security Allowance Scheme is to provide a monthly allowance to Hong Kong residents who are 65 years of age or above to meet special needs arising from old age. Both CSSA and OAA are non-contributory. In order to be eligible for CSSA, an applicant must pass both income and assets tests. As for OAA, applicants aged 70 or above are not subject to income and assets tests. The income and asset tests for applicants aged between 65 and 69 are also more relaxed than those for CSSA.
My reply to the Hon Mr Lau's questions in seriatim is as follows:
(a) The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will not reject applications for CSSA or OAA simply because the applicants fail to produce address proofs or bank account particulars. As such, SWD is unable to provide the figures as requested.
(b) At present, CSSA and OAA applicants are only required to make a self-declaration of address without the need to produce address proofs. However, CSSA applicants are required to produce proofs of accommodation expenses if applying for rent allowance.
The aim of requiring CSSA and Normal OAA applicants to provide their bank account particulars is to facilitate the verification of their income and assets by the SWD so as to ascertain their eligibility for CSSA or Normal OAA. Besides, payment of assistance or allowance is credited to the bank account of the applicant by SWD on a monthly basis. Under exceptional circumstances, for example, if an applicant is unable to open a bank account, SWD can arrange direct payment of the assistance or allowance to the applicant. Applicants with special difficulties may also approach the social security field units for assistance.
Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:32
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