The Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (PCSSA) Scheme will be extended to Fujian Province, from August 1, 2005, a Social Welfare Department (SWD) spokesman said.

     Also effective from August 1, 2005, elderly people who have received Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) for one year will be eligible to join the scheme.

     The new measures were introduced in the 2005 Policy Address with an aim to provide more elderly people in need with the choice to retire to the Mainland.

     The PCSSA Scheme, currently covering only Guangdong Province, enables elderly CSSA recipients who meet the prescribed criteria to continue to receive cash assistance under the CSSA Scheme if they choose to retire permanently in Guangdong.  The coverage will be extended to Fujian with effect from August 1 this year.

     Instead of requiring applicants to have received CSSA continuously for at least three years immediately before the date of application, the new PCSSA Scheme will allow elderly persons to apply after obtaining CSSA for at least one year only.

     Applicants, apart from fulfilling the criteria under the CSSA Scheme, should also be aged 60 or above, being Hong Kong permanent resident and have lived in Hong Kong for at least seven years.

     Recipients of the PCSSA Scheme are entitled to a monthly standard rate and an annual long-term supplement.  

     They may choose to return to Hong Kong at any time to take up permanent residence and receive CSSA in Hong Kong.

     SWD has commissioned the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch as an agent to review cases and provide services for PCSSA recipients in both Fujian and Guangdong.

     PCSSA Scheme has been implemented since 1997.  As at the end of June, there were about 3,000 active cases under the PCSSA Scheme.

     All applications for the PCSSA Scheme will be processed in Hong Kong and can be made at the 36 social security field units of SWD in the territory.

Ends

July 30, 2005