The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance caseload fell to 222,086 in August, down 0.1% on July, the Social Welfare Department announced today.

The total number of recipients stood at 316,204.

Low-earnings cases decreased 0.8% to 3,216 when compared with July.

Single parent cases dropped 0.4% to 24,159 and old age cases slipped 0.3% to 138,501.

Unemployment cases went up 1.6% to 11,919.

Ill-health cases rose 0.5% to 23,442 and permanent disability cases edged up 0.2% to 16,733.