The overall social security caseload in December fell 0.2% from November to 295,333, involving 521,611 recipients, the Social Welfare Department says.

The number of jobless cases fell 1.1%, to 37,819. Low-earning and single-parent cases fell 0.6% and 0.2%, to 18,257 and 38,449.

However, a 0.1% rise was seen in cases involving the aged (152,507), permanently disabled (17,989) and those in ill health (24,301).

Old-age cases accounted for 51.6% of the total, followed by single-parent and jobless cases, at 13% and 12.8%. Low-earning cases accounted for 6.2%.

In 2005-06, total government spending on social-security payments was about $17.8 billion.