The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in August showed a rise of 245 cases, representing an increase of 0.1 per cent compared with that of July, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (September 17).

     The total CSSA caseload at the end of August stood at 226 190 (see attached table), with a total of 320 852 recipients.
 
     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.2 per cent to 2 734 cases. Both old age cases and single parent cases were down by 0.2 per cent to 132 711 cases and 24 917 cases respectively.
 
     Unemployment cases increased by 2.1 per cent to 18 754 cases. The figure represented an increase of about 57.3 per cent in comparison with that of August 2019. The number of applications of unemployment cases has slightly fallen 0.9 per cent to 929 cases in August 2020, representing a stabilising trend, but still an increase of about 65.6 per cent from 561 cases in August 2019.
 
     Ill-health cases rose by 0.5 per cent to 25 518 cases. Permanent disability cases increased by 0.2 per cent to 17 292 cases.

Ends/Thursday, September 17, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:00

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