The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance caseload rose by 188 cases to 195,775 in February, up 0.1% from January, the Social Welfare Department announced today.

The total number of recipients was 262,513.

Low-earnings cases fell by 1.1% month on month to 1,354 cases. Single parent cases dropped 0.3% to 19,025 cases. Permanent disability cases declined 0.1% to 16,704 cases.

Meanwhile, the number of old age cases rose 0.2% to 110,943. Unemployment cases increased by 0.1% to 16,069 cases, while ill-health cases remained steady at 27,762 cases.