Another Round Of Subsidy Rolled Out For 'N-nothings'

Around 137,000 low-income households who are usually unable to receive government welfare have been encouraged to apply for the second round of a one-off living subsidy from next Monday onwards.

The programme will be run by the Community Care Fund, and is aimed at helping the so-called “N-nothings” – households which are currently not living in public housing or receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA).

The head of the Community Care Fund, labour and welfare minister Law Chi-kwong, said on Tuesday that HK$1.4 billion has been set aside for the scheme, and applications will open on January 4 and run until May 31.

One-person households will be eligible for a HK$4,500 one-off subsidy, two-person families will get HK$9,000, and those with five or more people could get up to HK$15,500.

Law said it will take around two months for the government to vet the applications, adding that this will probably be the last time for authorities to roll out the scheme because other poverty alleviation measures will be introduced next year.

"The Transport and Housing bureau is already considering to provide a living subsidy by the second half of 2021 for those who are on the waiting list for public housing for three years or more. At the same time, the working family allowance will be making adjustments to the eligibility criteria ... so the target this particular programme is aiming at will be substantially covered by the two schemes," he said.

The welfare chief said 113,000 applications were received for the first round of subsidy which ended last month.