The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance caseload dropped to 224,603 in March, down 0.3% on February, the Social Welfare Department announced today.

The total number of recipients stood at 319,801.

Low-earnings cases fell 2% to 3,422.

Both unemployment cases and old age cases decreased 0.4% to 11,696 and 141,280.

Permanent disability cases dropped 0.3% to 16,621 while single parent cases fell 0.2% to 24,382 cases.

Ill health cases remained at 23,043.