The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in February showed a marginal decrease of 13 cases, which translated into an insignificant month-to-month decreasing rate of less than 0.01% when compared with the figure in January, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (March 8).

Total CSSA caseload at the end of February stood at 297,557 (see attached table  MS Excel Document), with a total of 538,212 recipients.

Analysed by case nature, unemployment cases showed a continued month-to-month decrease of 0.1% in February to 40,995.

Single parent cases also registered a month-to-month decrease of 0.2% in February to 39,554, the sixth consecutive month to record a decrease.

Low earning cases continued to rise slightly in February by 0.1% to stand at 18,138.

Total government expenditure on CSSA payments was $17.6 billion for 2004-05.

Ends

Wednesday, March 8, 2006