There were 295,866 social security assistance cases last month, up 19 cases on January, the Social Welfare Department says.

Cases involving people with low earnings rose 1.3% from 16,410 cases to 16,624. However, the number of jobless receiving comprehensive social security assistance continued to fall, with 44,370 cases last month, down 0.9% on January.

There was also a drop in the share of such cases to the overall total, to 15% from 15.1% in January.