Eligibility Criteria for Public Assistance Scheme

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Minister for Social and Family Development since the widening of the eligibility criteria for the Public Assistance Scheme in 2012 and 2013 (a) how many applications were received for the scheme in 2013; (b) how many such applicants had been successful; and (c) for each of the groups in (a) and (b), how many were aged 55 years and above.

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The Public Assistance (PA) Scheme provides assistance to those who are permanently unable to work due to old age, illness or disability, and have little or no means of income and family support.

In 2013, the Ministry received 629 applications for PA. Of these, 510 were placed on PA, while another 23 were assisted under other ComCare assistance or linked up with local assistance schemes. Of the 629 applicants for PA in 2013, 541 were aged 55 and over. Of the 510 persons placed on PA in 2013, 442 were aged 55 and over.