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Recipients of social security payments and WFA to get one-off extra allowance
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     The Government today (May 31) announced that, as proposed in the 2023-24 Budget, a one-off extra allowance will be provided to eligible recipients of social security payments. The amount of allowance is equal to one half of the monthly standard rate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payments, Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance or Disability Allowance. Similar arrangements will apply to recipients of Working Family Allowance (WFA). The above recipients will receive the extra allowance starting from today (details in the Annex).

     A Government spokesman said that recipients who were eligible for social security payments on May 3, 2023 (i.e. the date on which the Legislative Council approved the Appropriation Bill 2023), and those whose WFA applications were made from November 1, 2022, to May 3, 2023, and eventually approved, would be eligible for the one-off extra allowance. It is estimated that about 1.63 million social security recipients and about 70 000 WFA households would benefit from the arrangements, involving a total of over $2.8 billion in extra allowance. The payment will be credited to the designated Hong Kong bank accounts of the eligible recipients/households and no separate application is necessary.

     For enquiries, recipients of social security payments may call the hotline (2343 2255) of the Social Welfare Department or contact the respective Social Security Field Unit. As for enquiries on the WFA Scheme, please visit the website of the Working Family Allowance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (wfa.gov.hk) or call its hotline (2558 3000).
 
Ends/Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:00
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