First and current laws: 1971 (social assistance); 1973, (universal old-age and disability allowance); 1978 (means-tested old-age supplement); 1980 (means-tested disability supplement); 1988 (means-tested old-age allowance; universal higher-rate disability allowance); 1993 (public assistance re-named comprehensive social security assistance, and special needs allowance re-named social security allowance).
Type of program: Dual universal and social assistance system.
Exchange rate: U.S.$1.00 equals 7.74 HK dollars.
Residents.
Insured person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: Entire cost.
Old-age allowance: Lower rate--Age 65-69; holding resident status and 5 years of continuous residence; income and savings below prescribed level. Higher rate--no means test. Age 70, holding resident status and 5 years continuous residence.
Disability allowance: Lower rate--holding resident status and 1 year of continuous residence and 100% loss of earning capacity, or profoundly deaf. No means test.
Higher rate--same criteria as for lower rate; certified to be in need of constant attendance, not residing in government (or government supported) institutions. No means test.
Comprehensive social security: Age 60 and over, or disabled; holding resident status and 1 year of continuous residence; income and savings below prescribed level.
Old-age allowance: Lower rate--HK$625 a month. Higher rate--HK$705 a month.
Comprehensive social security: Ranges from HK$2,160 to HK$4,670 a month if single, and from HK$1,965 to HK$4,315 a month for a family member, depending on category of recipient; plus special grants to meet specific needs of recipients on an individual basis.
Disability allowance: Lower rate--HK$1,260 a month. Higher rate--HK$2,520 a month.
Comprehensive social security: Same as old-age benefit.
Funeral grant: HK$11,730 to recipients of comprehensive social security assistance.
Social Welfare Department, administration of program.
First laws: 1968 (employer liability) and 1971 (social assistance).
Current law: 1997.
Type of program: Dual employer liability (cash benefits only) and social assistance system.
All employees. Residents (comprehensive social security).
Insured person: None.
Employer: Entire cost of employer liability program.
Government: Entire cost of comprehensive social security program.
Cash sickness benefit: 1 month of continuous employment.
Cash maternity benefit: 40 weeks of continuous employment.
Comprehensive social security: holding resident status and 1 year of continuous residence; limited working capacity; income and savings below prescribed level.
Sickness benefit: 4/5 of wage up to 120 days. Payable after 3-day waiting period.
Maternity benefit: 4/5 of wage payable for 10 weeks, which may begin 2-4 weeks before birth.
Comprehensive social security: See rates of payment under old-age program, above.
Medical benefits: None.
(Medical care available in public hospitals at low cost.)
Labor Department, administration of employer liability program.
Social Welfare Department, administration of social assistance program.
First laws: 1953 (employer liability) and 1971 (social assistance).
Current law: 1995.
Type of program: Dual employer liability and social assistance system.
All employees. Residents (comprehensive social security).
Insured person: None.
Employer: Entire cost of employer liability program.
Government: Entire cost of comprehensive social security program.
Work-injury benefits: No minimum qualifying period.
Comprehensive social security: Same as for Sickness and Maternity program, above.
Temporary disability benefit: 4/5 of the difference between earnings before and after injury.
Payable for up to 36 months.
Comprehensive social security: See rates of payment under old-age program, above.
Permanent disability grant: Total disability, lump sum of 48-96 months' earnings, according to age of employee.
Maximum, HK$2,016,000; minimum, HK$344,000.
Constant-attendance supplement: Lump sum or periodic payments up to 2 years. Maximum, HK$412,000.
Partial disability: Percent of full benefit proportionate to degree of incapacity, according to schedule.
Medical benefits: Medical examination, treatment, and appliances.
Survivor grant: Lump sum of 36-84 months' earnings, according to age of deceased. Maximum, HK$1,764,000; minimum, HK$303,000.
Funeral grant (if no survivor): HK$16,000.
Labor Department, administration of employer liability program.
Social Welfare Department, administration of social assistance program.
First and current law: 1977.
Type of program: Social assistance system.
Residents with no or of limited income aged 15-59.
Insured person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: Entire cost.
Unemployment benefit: 1 year of continuous residence and registered for employment. Income and savings below prescribed level.
Unemployment allowance: HK$1,805 a month if single, and HK$1,610 a month for a family member, plus special grants to meet specific needs of recipients on an individual basis.
Social Welfare Department and Labor Department, administration of program.
First and current law: 1971.
Type of program: Social assistance system.
Residents.
Insured person: None.
Employer: None.
Government: Entire cost.
Family allowances: 1 year of continuous residence; income and savings below prescribed level.
Family allowances: Ranges from HK$1,795 to HK$4,315 a month for a family member; plus special grants to meet specific needs of recipients on an individual basis.
Social Welfare Department, administration of program.