CSSA allowances inch up by 1.3pc

Cheng Wong

Social security payments will increase by 1.3 percent starting February 1, benefiting about 1.6 million Hongkongers, the Social Welfare Department announced yesterday.

Under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, able-bodied recipients will get from HK$30 to HK$45 more. For families comprising three able-bodied adults and children, payments will increase from HK$2,900 to HK$2,940.

For the elderly and non-able-bodied it will range from HK$50 to HK$95.

The old-age allowance will be raised by HK$20 to HK$1,640 from HK$1,620, while the old-age living allowance will increase by HK$55 to HK$4,250, from HK$4,195.

A department spokesman said the Legislative Council finance committee approved the increases on December 6 in line with the established mechanism.

"Furthermore, taking into account the movement of the consumer price index (A) rent index for private housing, the administration will raise the maximum rent allowance under the CSSA Scheme by 0.2 percent," he added.

The monthly allowance for a one-person household will increase from HK$2,515 to HK$2,520; for a two-person household, from HK$4,440 to 4,450; and for a household of six or more, from HK$7,800 to HK$7,815.