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Overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in January, 2006, has dropped slightly by 0.1% when compared with the figure in December 2005, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (February 8).
Total CSSA caseload at the end of January 2006 stood at 297,570 (see attached table), with a total of 539,593 recipients.
Analysed by case nature, unemployment cases showed a continued month-to-month decrease of 1% in January 2006, to 41,036.
Single parent cases also registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.3% in January, 2006, to 39,631, the fifth consecutive month to record a decrease.
However, low earning cases continued to rise in January, 2006, by 0.2% to stand at 18,127.
Total government expenditure on CSSA payments was $17.6 billion for 2004-05.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:02
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