2020-21 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 assist able-bodied CSSA recipients to take up employment. The Scheme consists of 2 components:
- The Employment Support Services: provision of integrated employment support services on a 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 2021, there were 223 792 CSSA cases providing assistance to 319 191 people. Analysis of distribution of CSSA cases by nature of cases as at 31 March 2021 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 2021 |
Percentage as at 31 March 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age | 128 863 | 57.6% |
| Permanent Disability | 17 502 | 7.8% |
| Ill Health | 26 289 | 11.7% |
| Single Parent | 24 826 | 11.1% |
| Low Earnings | 2 422 | 1.1% |
| Unemployment | 19 810 | 8.9% |
| Others | 4 080 | 1.8% |
Note: Individual percentage may not add up to 100% due to rounding effect.
2.2 A total of $22,853 million was paid out under the CSSA Scheme in 2020-21. The total expenditure for the years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is shown in Chart 2 below:
Chart 2: Total Expenditure under the CSSA Scheme for 2016-17 to 2020-21
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 22,308 |
| 2017-18 | 21,700 |
| 2018-19 | 22,323 |
| 2019-20 | 22,667 |
| 2020-21 | 22,853 |
SSA Scheme
2.3 As at 31 March 2021, the number of SSA cases was 1 076 990. 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 2021 |
Percentage as at 31 March 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Old Age Allowance | 291 228 | 27.0% |
| Old Age Living Allowance | 605 574 | 56.2% |
| Guangdong Scheme | 19 257 | 1.8% |
| Fujian Scheme | 1 949 | 0.2% |
| Higher Disability Allowance | 18 294 | 1.7% |
| Normal Disability Allowance | 140 688 | 13.1% |
Note: Individual percentage may not add up to 100% due to rounding effect.
2.4 A total of $38,166 million was paid out under the SSA Scheme in 2020-21. The total expenditure for the years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is shown in Chart 4 below:
Chart 4: Total Expenditure under the SSA Scheme for 2016-17 to 2020-21
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 22,123 |
| 2017-18 | 23,632 |
| 2018-19 | 39,340 |
| 2019-20 | 36,643 |
| 2020-21 | 38,166 |
CLEIC Scheme
2.5 In 2020-21, a total of $ 8.39 million was paid out under the CLEIC Scheme to 303 cases. The total expenditure for the years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is shown in Chart 5 below：
Chart 5: Total Expenditure under the CLEIC Scheme for 2016-17 to 2020-21
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 5.99 |
| 2017-18 | 4.92 |
| 2018-19 | 5.75 |
| 2019-20 | 5.36 |
| 2020-21 | 8.39 |
TAVA Scheme
2.6 In 2020-21, a total of $ 409.09 million was paid out under the TAVA Scheme to 14 826 cases. The total expenditure for the years 2016-17 to 2020-21 is shown in Chart 6 below：
Chart 6: Total Expenditure under the TAVA Scheme for 2016-17 to 2020-21
| Year | Total Expenditure ($Mn) |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 254.56 |
| 2017-18 | 235.05 |
| 2018-19 | 280.18 |
| 2019-20 | 290.35 |
| 2020-21 | 409.09 |
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 2020-21, the SSAB ruled on 159 appeals, including 20 CSSA cases and 139 SSA cases. The Board confirmed the decisions of SWD in 88 cases (55%) and varied its decisions in 71 cases (45%).