2019-20 Annual Service Provision and Statistics
Objectives
1.1 Social security in Hong Kong aims to meet the basic and special needs of members of the community who are in need of financial or material assistance.
Service Provision
1.2 This objective is achieved through a non-contributory social security system administered by SWD. It comprises the CSSA Scheme, the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme, the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance (TAVA) Scheme and Emergency Relief. Elderly CSSA recipients who meet the prescribed criteria can continue to receive cash assistance under the CSSA Scheme if they choose to retire permanently in the Guangdong or Fujian Province. In addition, the Social Security Appeal Board, an independent body, handles appeals against SWD's decisions on social security issues.
1.3 Under the CSSA Scheme, the Support for Self-reliance Scheme aims to encourage and assist able-bodied CSSA recipients to take up employment. The Scheme consists of 2 components:
- The Integrated Employment Assistance Programme for Self-reliance: provision of one-stop, integrated employment assistance services on family basis by NGOs commissioned by SWD to help able-bodied CSSA recipients find jobs.
- Disregarded earnings: provision of an incentive by disregarding part of their income when assessing the amount of assistance payable to CSSA recipients to encourage them to undertake paid employment while on CSSA.
Statistics
CSSA Scheme
2.1 As at 31 March 2020, there were 222 691 CSSA cases providing assistance to 310 153 people. Analysis of distribution of CSSA cases by nature of cases as at 31 March 2020 is shown in Chart 1 below：
Chart 1: Distribution of CSSA Cases by Nature of Cases
| Nature of Cases | Number of Cases as at 31 March 2020 |
Percentage as at 31 March 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age | 135 239 | 60.7% |
| Permanent Disability | 17 026 | 7.6% |
| Ill Health | 24 562 | 11.0% |
| Single Parent | 24 030 | 10.8% |
| Low Earnings | 2 974 | 1.3% |
| Unemployment | 14 647 | 6.6% |
| Others | 4 213 | 1.9% |
Note: Individual percentage may not add up to 100% due to rounding effect.
2.2 A total of $22,667 million was paid out under the CSSA Scheme in 2019-20. The total expenditure for the years 2015-16 to 2019-20 is shown in Chart 2 below：
Chart 2: Total Expenditure under the CSSA Scheme for 2015-16 to 2019-20
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 22,313 |
| 2016-17 | 22,308 |
| 2017-18 | 21,700 |
| 2018-19 | 22,323 |
| 2019-20 | 22,667 |
SSA Scheme
2.3 As at 31 March 2020, the number of SSA cases was 1 015 187. A breakdown of these cases by nature of cases is shown in Chart 3 below：
Chart 3: Distribution of SSA Cases by Nature of Cases
| Nature of Cases | Number of Cases as at 31 March 2020 |
Percentage as at 31 March 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age Allowance | 270 080 | 26.6% |
| Old Age Living Allowance | 572 029 | 56.3% |
| Guangdong Scheme | 18 465 | 1.8% |
| Fujian Scheme | 1 795 | 0.2% |
| Higher Disability Allowance | 17 694 | 1.7% |
| Higher Disability Allowance | 135 124 | 13.3% |
Note: Individual percentage may not add up to 100% due to rounding effect.
2.4 A total of $36,643 million was paid out under the SSA Scheme in 2019-20. The total expenditure for the years 2015-16 to 2019-20 is shown in Chart 4 below：
Chart 4: Total Expenditure under the SSA Scheme for 2015-16 to 2019-20
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 21,673 |
| 2016-17 | 22,123 |
| 2017-18 | 23,632 |
| 2018-19 | 39,340 |
| 2019-20 | 36,643 |
CLEIC Scheme
2.5 In 2019-20, a total of $ 5.36 million was paid out under the CLEIC Scheme to 253 cases. The total expenditure for the years 2015-16 to 2019-20 is shown in Chart 5 below：
Chart 5: Total Expenditure under the CLEIC Scheme for 2015-16 to 2019-20
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 4.78 |
| 2016-17 | 5.99 |
| 2017-18 | 4.92 |
| 2018-19 | 5.75 |
| 2019-20 | 5.36 |
TAVA Scheme
2.6 In 2019-20, a total of $ 290.35 million was paid out under the TAVA Scheme to 11 762 cases. The total expenditure for the years 2015-16 to 2019-20 is shown in Chart 6 below：
Chart 6: Total Expenditure under the TAVA Scheme for 2015-16 to 2019-20
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 228.96 |
| 2016-17 | 254.56 |
| 2017-18 | 235.05 |
| 2018-19 | 280.18 |
| 2019-20 | 290.35 |
Social Security Appeal Board
2.7 The Social Security Appeal Board (SSAB) is an independent body comprising 7 non-officials appointed by the Chief Executive. Its main function is to consider appeals against the decisions of SWD under the CSSA, SSA and TAVA schemes. Decisions of the Board are final.
2.8 In 2019-20, the SSAB ruled on 319 appeals, including 46 CSSA cases, 271 SSA cases and 2 TAVA cases. The Board confirmed the decisions of SWD in 213 cases (67%) and varied its decisions in 106 cases (33%).