Abolition of absence rule under Low-income Working Family Allowance Scheme

Today, the Chief Executive in Council approved the abolition of the absence rule under the Low-income Working Family Allowance (LIFA) Scheme as from today.

Poverty alleviation is one of the four policy priorities of the current-term Government. In my 2014 Policy Address, I announced the introduction of the LIFA Scheme.

The Scheme was launched in May 2016. After listening to different views and reviewing the experience gained over the past year, it is decided today that the Scheme will be further enhanced to benefit more low-income working families.

Since the current-term Government took office over four years ago, welfare expenditure has increased by 55 per cent, providing better protection for the grass roots. Our welfare policy did not result in layabouts, as evident in the decline in the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance unemployment caseload for 86 consecutive months.

The Scheme, which aims to encourage self-reliance, helps people in the low-income group improve livelihood with Government allowance as well as their own efforts.

December 6, 2016