Living subsidy applications to open
(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)
The Community Care Fund (CCF) will launch the second round of the One-off Living Subsidy for Low-income Households Not Living in Public Housing & Not Receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) programme on January 4.
Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong, who is also CCF Task Force Chairperson, today noted the fund has set aside around $1.44 billion to implement the programme, which will benefit about 137,150 households or about 353,600 people.
The programme is administered by the CCF Secretariat, with 220 service units operated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to accept and carry out the initial processing of applications.
Its target beneficiaries, eligibility criteria and subsidy levels are the same as those for the first round held between July and November this year.
Dr Law said it is unlikely that the programme will go into a third round, as the subsidy it provides will overlap with some government initiatives planned for next year.
“Whether this particular item, as a one-off living subsidy, will be launched for the last time, as I said, when we were considering whether we should launch this programme - subsequently we launched it twice, at that time the Chief Executive already announced that the Transport & Housing Bureau was considering to provide a living subsidy by probably the second half of 2021 for those who have been on the waiting list of public rental housing for three years or more.
“The Working Family Allowance Office will make adjustments to the eligibility requirement for those who apply for the Working Family Allowance Scheme together with the measure by the Transport & Housing Bureau.
“So the target that this particular programme is aiming at will be substantially covered by the two schemes. It is very unlikely that the same programme will be launched as it overlaps so substantially with some schemes that will come into existence.”
Beneficiaries should currently be renting accommodation on a monthly basis or for longer tenures in private housing, industrial buildings, commercial buildings or social housing operated by NGOs.
They also include people renting bedspaces offered under the Home Affairs Department's Singleton Hostel Programme or bedspaces in hostels operated by NGOs for rehabilitated offenders; residing in temporary housing; living on vessels; or who are homeless.
Their monthly income must not exceed the specified limits and they should not be receiving CSSA or own any property in Hong Kong.
Eligible households that benefited from the 2020 Programme will also be covered. The CCF Secretariat will send the notifications to old applicant households next year during January and May in phases. Those who are still eligible for the 2021 programme should complete and return the reply slip before the application period ends.
New eligible households may submit applications in phases. One-person households can apply from January 4, two-person households from February 1, three-person households from March 1, while all households irrespective of their size can submit applications from April 1.
Applications can be submitted until May 31.
Click here for details.