The Social Welfare Department has made an additional month's payment to comprehensive social security assistance and social security allowance recipients.

The Financial Secretary's 2007-08 Budget broached a series of measures to help the disadvantaged, including the provision of a one-off assistance of one month's payment to recipients of the two schemes. Lawmakers approved the allocation in April, and the department enhanced its computerised social security system in May to put the payment into effect.

Beneficiaries are not required to apply for the assistance, which will be paid through the existing payment method. They will be granted an extra month of the standard rate of comprehensive social security assistance payment or an extra month of the social security allowance allowance.

The payment amount for comprehensive social security assistance recipients is equivalent to the individual recipient's or family's standard rate. The payment for social security allowance recipients is equivalent to one month's disability or old-age allowance.

For enquiries, welfare recipients can contact the department's hotline 2343 2255 or their respective social security field units.