The Social Welfare Department has welcomed the Ombudsman's recommendations on processing disability allowance applications. To improve processing, it will follow up on information dissemination measures.

Of the 71 Higher Disability Allowance cases involving overpayment studied by the Ombudsman, most recipients agreed with the department on a repayment schedule. The department will work with the remainder on repayment arrangements. It will review individual cases so the concerned recipients can get a fair and equitable arrangement.

As the allowance was paid in advance, overpayment might be unavoidable due to unreported cases or cases of late reporting, particularly those involving hospitalisation of severely disabled people who can not report promptly to the department.

Despite these situations, the department has put in place cross-checking mechanisms, periodic case reviews and random checks to detect unreported changes to minimise chances of overpayment. It will keep its services to disability allowance recipients under review.