APPLICANT:
Que.1: Can I apply SPED?
Ans. 1: Applicants
under the SPED must be employers of
persons with disabilities. Self-employed
is not eligible for application. Beneficiary
must be employees.
Que.2: I am a part-time worker, can my boss apply SPED subsidy for
me?
Ans. 2: No matter employees are either part-time or
full-time, employers can apply subsidies under SPED for their employees to
enhance their work efficiency. SPED administrator will assess over-all
perspectives of every application and prepare report for consideration by the
Assessment Committee.
Que. 3: I am one of the referring organizations. Can I apply SPED?
Ans. 3: Referring organization can apply SPED for
their employees instead of their service user.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Que. 4: How can I apply SPED?
Ans. 4: Applications from employers should be made on the specified
application form to Social Welfare Department through the referring organisations,
together with quotations from at least
two suppliers for each item.
Que. 5: I have no referring organization, how can I apply SPED?
Ans.5:
Applicants without any connection with the potential referring organisations
may contact Po Leung Kuk SPED office
for assistance and necessary arrangement.
Que. 6: Can I provide quotations from foreign countries’ supplier?
Ans. 6: All
quotations and receipts only valid in Hong
Kong currency. Please convert into Hong Kong currency once provide quotations
from foreign countries’ supplier.
Que. 7: What should I do if I want to withdraw from this programme?
Ans. 7: Applicants can withdraw from this programme at any time
simply by notifying Po Leung Kuk SPED Office and SWD in writing (by email or by
post).
SUDSIDY AND SCOPE OF SUPPORT
Que. 8: What items can I apply for my employees?
Ans. 8: A wide range of assistive devices and
workplace modifications which caters for the special needs of employees
with disabilities at the workplaces may be support. SPED administrator will
assess over-all perspectives of
every application and prepare reports for consideration by the Assessment
Committee. The SPED does not cover
devices or equipment which is not specifically related to the discharge of
employment duties or which is a personal or therapeutic item used by the
employee with disabilities for daily living or therapy, such as wheelchairs,
hearing aids and glasses, etc.
Modification works for meeting statutory requirements will not be
covered by the SPED.
Que. 9: What will happen if my application amount over $40,000?
Ans. 9: The
approved amount, capped at a maximum support level of $40,000 for each employee
with disabilities, may be less than what an applicant employer has requested. If
the amount spent on the assistive device(s) and/or modification works exceeds
the approved amount, applicants have to bear
the difference at their own costs.
Que. 10: I have 2
employees with disabilities, they can both benefit from an assistive
device/workplace modification cost 60,000. What can I do?
Ans. 10:
The approved amount, capped at a maximum support level of $40,000 for each
employee with disabilities. If the assistive device(s) and/or modification
works can benefit more than one employee with disabilities, applicant employers can apply it for all
employees with disabilities concerned. The amount of subsidy will be
increased accordingly. Applicant employers should submit application form for each employee with disabilities
concerned, and explain the reason for such arrangement clearly.
ASSESSMENT
Que. 11: What should I do after I had submitted the application
form?
Ans. 11:
The assessor from Po Leung Kuk will make
appointment with the applicants to conduct assessment report by means of site visit and/or interview(s)
with the applicant and the employee with disabilities.
Que. 12: How do I get the application result?
Ans. 12: Applicants
and referring organisations will be informed of the application results in writting from the SWD.
Que. 13: Can I appeal or re-apply SPED if my application failed?
Ans. 13:
Notification letter will state the reason(s) for unsuccessful application. The
decision of the Committee on each application shall be final. Applicant employers can apply SPED again after
revise their applications. Application
number of times is no limit.
FOLLOW-UP
Que. 14: What should I do if my application was approved?
Ans. 14:
After being notified about the approval of the applications, applicants shall
procure the assistive devices and/or carry out the modification works according to the approval letter within two
months. They should send the required documents, including original receipt(s), to SWD within one
month after the procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace
modifications. Payments would be arranged by reimbursement to the applicants
upon their production of valid
receipt(s) in Hong Kong currency.
Que. 15: What should I do after the procurement of assistive devices
and/or workplace modifications?
Ans. 15: Following
the procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications, the assessors
from Po Leung Kuk shall monitor the use of subsidy through inspection visit(s)
at the workplace to assess the effectiveness of the devices procured and/or
works carried out.
Que. 16: What should I do if the employee with disabilities
resigned?
Ans. 16:
Upon termination of the employment contract with the employee concerned,
employers are required to inform SWD and Po Leung Kuk SPED Office of their
proposal as to how to make use of the assistive devices and/or the modified
setting of the workplace to benefit
other employees with disabilities. If the devices are tailor-made for the
employee with disabilities and are unlikely to benefit other employees with
disabilities, employers shall seek SWD’s agreement to the transfer of the
device to the employee with disabilities concerned at no cost. Application for such transfer should be made to SWD with
full justifications at least one month
before the proposed date of transfer.