Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ20: Statistics on CSSA cases

Following is a question by the Hon Lee Cheuk-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (November 26):

Question:

Regarding the latest statistics on the cases of the "low earnings" category under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the total number of household members (excluding the applicants) in such CSSA cases, together with a breakdown by gender and age profile (in groups each covering five years);

(b) a breakdown of such cases by the applicants' gender, age profile (in groups each covering five years), educational levels and employment earnings (in groups each covering $500), as well as the trades they are engaged in, their positions, the amounts of CSSA payments they receive each month (in groups each covering $500) and the numbers of months they have been receiving CSSA payments consecutively; and

(c) the number of CSSA cases transferred from other categories to the "low earnings" category?

Reply:

According to statistics of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), information regarding 'low earnings' cases(Note) under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme as requested is as follows:

(a) As at the end of October 2003, there were 47,795 recipients under the 'low earnings' category. 37,618 were household members of the applicants. A breakdown of the gender and age profiles of the household members (in groups each covering five years) is shown in Annex I.

(b) As regards the applicants under the 'low earnings' category, a breakdown of their gender and age profiles (in groups each covering five years), education levels, employment earnings (in groups each covering $500), occupations, and the number of months they have been receiving CSSA payments consecutively is shown in Annex II.

As regards the amount of CSSA payments received by the applicants, we do not have ready figures showing the monthly amount of payments received by these cases in groups each covering $500. However, the average amount of monthly payment received by 'low earnings' cases in 2002/03 is about $6,500.

(c) According to the results of an analysis comparing the 'low earnings' cases as at end 2001 and end 2002, 1,533 cases are observed to have transferred from other categories to the 'low earnings' category. A breakdown of the change of nature of these cases is at Annex III.

Note: 'Low earnings' cases refer to cases where the applicant aged 15 to 59 in normal health is earning not less than $1,430 per month, but the total assessable household income is insufficient to meet the total monthly needs as recognised under the CSSA Scheme.

Ends/Wednesday, November 26, 2003
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