The total comprehensive social security assistance caseload in September was 290,077, a decrease of 165 cases, or 0.1%, on August, the Social Welfare Department says. There were 481,128 recipients.

During the month, unemployment dropped 0.4% to 34,121, while single-parent cases fell 0.4% to 36,759. Low earning cases showed a decrease of 0.6% to 15,756.