Social Welfare Department
This head (Head 170) has a 2026-27 estimate of HK$132.9 billion p.3 (official document, opens in new tab). That is HK$13.7 billion (11.5%) more than the 2025-26 revised estimate of HK$119.2 billion p.3 (official document, opens in new tab) (our calculation).
Spending by year
Of HK$1,120 in tax, about HK$177 corresponds to this department's spending. p.3 (official document, opens in new tab) p.12 (official document, opens in new tab)
These splits are an illustration, not a bill: tax isn't earmarked. How we split it
What is the money for?
2026-27 programme budgets; changes against last year's revised estimate (our calculation). p.19 (official document, opens in new tab)
Programme figures and staff
Programme spending, staff and shares p.19 (official document, opens in new tab)
| Programme | 2026-27 | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | Staff | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Child Welfare | HK$6.0bn5,973.4 | 5,594.9 | 5,400.8 | — | — |
| Social Security | HK$93.1bn93,149.9 | 81,085.4 | 76,258.3 | — | — |
| Services for The Elderly | HK$17.3bn17,281.4 | 16,487.2 | 15,551.4 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services | HK$12.9bn12,882.4 | 12,377.4 | 11,851.2 | — | — |
| Services for Offenders | HK$438m437.7 | 438.7 | 441.3 | — | — |
| Community Development | HK$221m220.8 | 225.4 | 229.7 | — | — |
| Young People | HK$3.0bn2,990.4 | 3,029.1 | 2,947.6 | — | — |
Staff and policy areas
How many staff?
The establishment goes from 6,520 posts on 31 March 2026 p.3 (official document, opens in new tab) to 6,380 posts on 31 March 2027 p.3 (official document, opens in new tab) (down 140, our calculation).
Which policy areas does it serve?
- Internal Security (part of the Security group)
- Social Welfare (part of the Social Welfare group)
- District and Community Relations (part of the Community and External Affairs group)
A department may work in a policy area only in part. We never add department spending into group totals: the Government publishes totals by group only. Index of Policy Areas (PDF)
More lines from the Estimates
Other lines
| Item | 2026-27Estimate | 2025-26Revised estimate | 2024-25Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subhead 179 Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) scheme HK$m p.21 (official document, opens in new tab) | HK$23.4bn23,367.0 | 22,456.0 | 21,782.8 |
| Subhead 180 Social Security Allowance (SSA) scheme (Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance, Disability Allowance) HK$m p.21 (official document, opens in new tab) | HK$61.9bn61,872.0 | 54,187.0 | 50,175.1 |
| Subventions for social welfare services (grants to NGOs, within Subhead 000) HK$m p.22 (official document, opens in new tab) | HK$27.2bn27,241.4 | 26,741.3 | 26,224.9 |
| Subhead 700 General non-recurrent HK$m p.21 (official document, opens in new tab) | HK$6.6bn6,622.1 | 3,017.5 | 2,879.3 |
Measures in the Budget Speech
- One-off extra payment: one month of CSSA standard rate / Old Age Allowance / Old Age Living Allowance / Disability Allowance (and similar for Working Family Allowance): HK$6.5 billion Budget Speech, p.94 (official document, opens in new tab)
- Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly: +4 000 to 16 000 (estimated full-year expenditure): HK$1.2 billion Budget Speech, p.78 (official document, opens in new tab)
- Residential Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly: +1 000 to 7 000 (estimated full-year expenditure): HK$2.0 billion Budget Speech, p.78 (official document, opens in new tab)