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The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in August shows a slight increase of 138 cases over July, representing an insignificant increase of 0.05%, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (September 23).
A spokesman for the department said, "Total CSSA caseload at the end of August stood at 290,242, with a total of 488,073 recipients." (See attached CSSA caseload table.)
"Analysed by case nature, unemployment cases showed an increase of 0.2% in August to 34,266. Single parent cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.2% to 36,890."
Low earning cases also showed a month-to-month decrease of 0.2% to stand at 15,856, while ill health cases rose by 0.2% to 25,188.
"The SWD will make payment of a one-off grant of $1,000 for education-related expenses to eligible students on September 30. Students from kindergarten to secondary education who are eligible in the 2009/10 school year for the flat-rate grant for school-related expenses under the CSSA Scheme and kindergarten students who are eligible for fee assistance under the Fee Assistance (FA) Scheme for Child Care Centres in the same school year will benefit from the one-off grant," the spokesman added.
Beneficiaries are not required to make application for the grant. Applicants of the CSSA cases eligible for the one-off grant will receive payment on September 30 through the existing payment method, i.e. through bank payment credited to the designated bank account. Applicants of the FA cases eligible for the one-off grant will receive a crossed cheque amounting to $1,000 by post issued on the same day.
The provision of the one-off grant for education-related expenses was approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on June 19 for implementing the relief measures to help needy parents to relieve their financial burden.
Ends/Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:00
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