Abolition of absence rule under Low-income Working Family Allowance Scheme
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The LIFA Scheme has been implemented since May 2016 to support low-income working families living in Hong Kong for their living expenses. As there are occasions where a household member may need to be temporarily away from Hong Kong, the Scheme used to allow any member of the applicant families to be absent from Hong Kong for 30 days in any six-month claim period (the absence rule), while a LIFA household member's absence from Hong Kong as required by gainful employment could be disregarded.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "Having regard to the policy objectives of the LIFA Scheme to support working poor households, encourage self-reliance through employment and ease intergenerational poverty, we have decided to abolish the absence rule, i.e. the requirement for household members included in a LIFA application not to be absent from Hong Kong for more than 30 days in any six-month claim period will be removed."
The abolition of the absence rule applies to applications received on or after today. If applications are submitted by post, the abolition of absence rule will apply to those post-stamped on or after December 6, 2016. The absence rule will continue to apply to applications received (or post-stamped) before today.
In processing the applications received on or after today (or post-stamped on or after today), the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) will continue to adopt the existing definition of "household" under the LIFA Scheme, i.e. a household needs to have two or more members, and members should be living in the same premises (located in Hong Kong) with close economic ties (but excluding economic ties arising from employment relationship). Persons who are temporarily away from their households but would reasonably be expected to return would be regarded as members of the household. However, for persons who are away from their households and are reasonably expected not to return, they would not be regarded as members of the household.
"The Government will conduct a comprehensive policy review of the LIFA Scheme in mid-2017. Comments received from the public and concern groups on the Scheme will be carefully and comprehensively considered in the review," Mr Cheung added.
For enquiries, members of the public are welcome to call the 24-hour hotline (2558 3000) or visit the enquiry counters of the WFAO at 9/F, 181 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong. Details of the LIFA Scheme are also available at the LIFA website (lifa.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:27
Issued at HKT 15:27
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