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The standard payment rates under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the rates of Old Age Allowance (OAA) and Disability Allowance (DA) under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme will be increased next month (February).
A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (January 26), "Based on the established adjustment mechanism, the department earlier made a proposal to increase by 5.2 per cent (see Annex I) the standard payment rates under the CSSA Scheme and the rates of OAA and DA under the SSA Scheme in line with the movement of the Social Security Assistance Index of Prices. The proposal was subsequently approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council and will take effect on February 1.
"An additional expenditure of $1 246 million per year will be incurred for the adjustment, benefiting some 1.1 million recipients currently on CSSA or SSA."
The spokesman added, "The maximum rent allowance under the CSSA Scheme will also be adjusted upwards according to the movement of the Consumer Price Index (A) rent index for private housing by 5.7 per cent (see Annex II) on the same day."
CSSA and SSA recipients who have enquiries may contact their respective social security field units or call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.
Ends/Thursday, January 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:06
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