The Social Welfare Department today announced that standard payments under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and allowances under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme will be increased by 2.2%.

Allowances that will be increased under the SSA Scheme include the Old Age Allowance, the Old Age Living Allowance and the Disability Allowance.

All of the increases will take retrospective effect from February 1, the department added.

Retrospective payments will be issued in batches from tomorrow through the existing payment method, benefitting over 1.6 million recipients.

Following the Government’s submission to the Legislative Council Finance Committee of a proposal to raise payment levels, in line with movement in the Social Security Assistance Index of Prices, the proposal was approved last month.

In addition, in line with movement in the Consumer Price Index (A) rent index for private housing, the Government will increase the maximum rent allowance under the CSSA Scheme by 1.3%, also with retrospective effect from February 1.