The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (November 30) a six-month extension of implementing unemployment support measures under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme to temporarily relax the CSSA asset limits by 100 per cent for able-bodied persons. That means the relevant arrangement will be extended from December 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. These asset limits will be restored to the original levels starting from June 1, 2021.
Having considered the adverse impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the economy, the Government has implemented the second round of anti-epidemic measures which include the provision of time-limited unemployment support measures through the CSSA system. Starting from June 1 this year, the SWD has temporarily relaxed the CSSA asset limits for able-bodied persons by 100 per cent for six months till November 30. The Government later announced on September 15 the third round of anti-epidemic measures, including, among others, to extend the arrangement on the relaxation of the CSSA asset limits for able-bodied persons for another six months so as to maintain the support for those unemployed with immediate financial difficulties. The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council had approved the related funding on September 28.
In brief, the SWD temporarily relaxes the CSSA asset limits by 100 per cent for able-bodied persons (including able-bodied adult singletons and able-bodied adults and children under family cases) during a 12-month period from June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. For the original CSSA asset limits applicable to able-bodied persons and the relaxed asset limits during the 12-month period mentioned above, please see the Annex. Moreover, under the existing CSSA arrangement, the value of an owner-occupied residential property of households with able-bodied persons will be disregarded for a grace period of the first 12 months after applications have been approved. This arrangement will also continue to be applicable to able-bodied persons under this relaxation measure.
As for the time-limited arrangement under which the total cash value of insurance policies of able-bodied CSSA applicants will be disregarded as assets as announced in "The Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address", the Government will announce the details of the proposal at an appropriate time.
Applicants may visit the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_faqs/page_socialsecu). For enquiries, please call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.
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