The group advocates that the normalized caregiver allowance should not be accepted at the same time as the injury allowance or the elderly allowance.

Social News

Written by: Hou Cailin

2019-12-11 18:41

The Care Fund has earlier launched the "Trial Scheme for Living Allowance for Carers of Persons with Disabilities of Low Income". The second phase of the pilot scheme was launched from October last year to September next year. A survey on the Carers' Platform for People with Disabilities shows that more than 90% of the respondents agree or strongly agree that the carer's allowance should be regularized. At the same time, the carer's allowance should help applicants to receive respite services, such as respite services. At the same time, groups have criticized the restrictions on allowances, including the inability to receive "disability allowances" or "elderly living allowances" at the same time, and suggest that the government lift the restrictions.

A survey on the Carers' Platform for People with Disabilities shows that more than 90% of respondents agree or strongly agree that carer allowances should be regularized. (Provided by respondents)

Eligible persons receive a monthly allowance of 2,400 yuan

The Caring Fund launched the "Living Allowance Pilot Program for Low-Income Caregivers of Disabled People" earlier, which provides a monthly subsidy of 2,400 yuan to carers of disabled people in low-income families. The fund launched the second phase of the pilot program in October last year to September next year for a period of two years. Applicants must meet various conditions such as not receiving CSSA or elderly living allowance, or applying for the same disability to apply for the third subsistence allowance under the Fund's Pilot Program on Living Allowance for Low-Income Families. The number of beneficiaries in the second phase of the trial is 2,500.

More than 90% of respondents agree that allowances should be regularized

A platform for carers of disabled persons assisted by the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Patients' Mutual Aid Development Centre. Carried out a carer allowance questionnaire from June to July this year to understand the views and suggestions of carers and patients on the allowance. To 222 questionnaires, including 168 caregivers and 54 patients.

The survey results showed that nearly half of the carers had taken care of more than 17 hours per day in the past month, and more than 80% of the carers did not hire domestic helpers. At the same time, 53.5% of the respondents had not heard of a pilot scheme or a carer's allowance for a disabled person.

The results also showed that 93.2% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the caregiver allowance application should be regularized, and 95% agreed or strongly agreed that the caregiver allowance needs to be increased by the carer's transportation subsidy or ride discount. In addition, 94.2% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the caregiver allowance should fund the applicant to receive respite services, such as respite services.

The Caring for the Disabled Caregivers platform criticizes the high threshold for carer allowances, such as disability benefits and elderly living allowances. (Provided by respondents)

High threshold for group disapproval of disability benefits

The platform criticizes that the threshold for applying for allowances is high. When carers receive disability allowances or elderly living allowances, they are not eligible to apply, and the government is recommended to lift the restrictions. The platform also recommends that the government implement the regularized caregiver allowance as soon as possible, and set up ride concessions to reduce the financial pressure on caregivers.

In addition, the platform refers to the current plan of an additional allowance of 1,000 yuan per year to allow caregivers to learn care skills, but the utilization rate is not high. The platform proposes that the training allowance can be converted into the purchase of respite services, so that caregivers can take a short break to reduce the stress of care.

Caregiver was invited, but application was rejected twice

Ms. Hu, 68, has suffered a minor stroke. She has cared for her husband with cognitive impairment for many years. She has twice received an invitation letter from the SWD for carer allowances. However, the department also rejected her application on the grounds that she had received disability allowances and elderly living allowances. Ms. Hu was outraged and said that the government had given her false hopes, and she criticized that the relevant application qualifications were unfair.

Xu Yingwei said that she is reviewing the carer's allowance.

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