The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in October showed a drop of 797 cases, representing a decrease of 0.4 per cent compared with that of September, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (November 16).

     The total CSSA caseload at the end of October stood at 218 333 (see attached table), with a total of 308 721 recipients.

     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.9 per cent to 2 251 cases. Single parent cases showed a drop of 0.8 per cent to 24 132 cases. Old age cases were down by 0.3 per cent to 124 908 cases.

     Unemployment cases decreased by 1.4 per cent to 18 833 cases. The figure represented an increase of about 49.6 per cent in comparison with that of January 2020 when Hong Kong just started to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The average number of applications for unemployment cases in August to October 2021 was 502 per month, representing a reduction of 4.9 per cent from that in July to September.

     Ill-health cases increased by 0.3 per cent to 26 781 cases. Permanent disability cases increased by 0.1 per cent to 17 527 cases.

Ends/Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:00

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