The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme form the mainstay of Hong Kong's social security system. They are supplemented by three accident compensation schemes: the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Scheme and Emergency Relief.

The CSSA Scheme

The CSSA Scheme is non-contributory but means-tested. It aims to provide cash assistance to people suffering from financial hardship to meet basic livelihood needs. Applicants should satisfy the residence requirement. Employable CSSA applicants are required to actively seek paid jobs by participating in the Support for Self-reliance (SFS) Scheme. The amount of CSSA is determined by the applicant's resources and needs. The difference between the applicant's assessable income and the total recognised needs under the scheme is the amount of assistance payable.

    To help able-bodied unemployed CSSA recipients and other socially disadvantaged groups overcome barriers to work and become self-reliant, the department continued to implement the comprehensive package of employment-related services (see Major Achievements, above).

    Elderly CSSA recipients who have received assistance continuously for three years are allowed to continue to receive their monthly standard rate payment and annual long-term supplement if they choose to retire to Guangdong Province.

    At year-end, there were 266 571 CSSA cases, compared with 241 673 in 2001. Total expenditure during the year amounted to $15.77 billion, representing an increase of 12 per cent over the previous year.

The SSA Scheme

The non-contributory SSA Scheme provides allowances to meet the special needs of the severely disabled and elderly persons. There are four allowances:

• Normal Disability Allowance — for severely disabled persons with a certified 100 per cent loss of earning capacity.
• Higher Disability Allowance — for severely disabled persons who require constant attendance from others in their daily life but are not receiving such care in a government or subvented institution or medical residential institution under the Hospital Authority.
• Normal Old Age Allowance — for persons aged 65 to 69 with income and assets not exceeding the prescribed levels.
• Higher Old Age Allowance — for persons aged 70 or above.

    At year-end, 561 078 people were receiving social security allowances, compared with 559 399 in 2001. Total expenditure during the year was $5.32 billion, representing an increase of 2.2 per cent over the previous year.

Accident Compensation Schemes

The CLEIC Scheme provides cash assistance for victims of crimes of violence and law enforcement acts (or for their dependants in cases of death) on a non-means-tested basis. In case of a subsequent successful claim for compensation from other sources which arise from the incident, the beneficiary is required to refund the payment received from the scheme or the amount of compensation, whichever is the less.

    During the year, 774 applications were approved for assistance amounting to $9.6 million, compared with $11.07 million in the previous year.

    The TAVA Scheme provides speedy financial assistance for people injured or for dependants of those killed in traffic accidents on a non-means-tested basis, regardless of the element of fault leading to the occurrence of the accident. In case of a subsequent successful claim for compensation arising from the accident, the beneficiary is required to refund the payment received from the scheme or the amount of compensation, whichever is the less.

    During the year, 8 087 applications were approved for assistance amounting to $150.18 million, compared with $138.69 million in 2001.

    Emergency relief in the form of cooked meals or cash grants in lieu of cooked meals and other essential relief articles is provided to victims of natural and other disasters. Grants from the Emergency Relief Fund are paid to these victims (or to their dependants in cases of death). Emergency relief was given to 301 victims on 17 occasions during the year.

Social Security Appeal Board

The Social Security Appeal Board considers appeals against the SWD's decisions concerning CSSA, SSA and TAVA. It heard a total of 131 appeals in 2002.

    During the year, the department also strengthened the Special Investigation Section and enhanced its efforts to reduce fraud and abuse of welfare benefits. At the same time, a risk management approach was being developed in the administration of the social security schemes.