The Statistical Analysis on Subsidies and Welfare Services Rendered to Mentally and Physically Disabled Citizens

July 12, 2000

Welfare provided to mentally and physically disabled is an important part of social welfare. The care and assistance provided to mentally and physically disabled citizens are human reflection and mutual caring of people. The goal is to provide protection and dignified living to each and every mentally/physically disabled person. "The Law for Welfare of the Disabled"(the Law) and its enforcement rules were promulgated in 1980 and 1985. In June of 1995, patients suffering chronicle mental diseases are include in the Law. In April of 1997, the Law was renamed as "The Mentally/Physically Disabled Citizens Protection Law " (the Protection Law). The government is promoting various welfare measures, conducting reviews and assessment of mentally/physically disabled according to the Protection Law and subsidiary laws. "The Manuals for Mentally/Physically Disabled"(the disable manuals) are being issued. The results of review and assessment are input into computers and updated. Thus, the government can take hold of the most updated information and provide the most pertinent services.

As of 1999, there are 649 thousand mentally/physically disabled citizens in Taiwan Area. In order to take care of basic living of such persons, the government grants subsidies to low-income disabled citizens in the total amount of 7 billion and 13.85 million NT dollars. The government grants subsidy for auxiliary equipment in the amount of 865.97 million NT dollars and subsidies for baby cares/nurturing for 1 billion and 87.79 million NT dollars. The government assists in setting up 131 welfare institutions for mentally/physically disabled citizens and 13 welfare service centers to provide pre-schooling education/treatment, day-care service for baby, nurturing/training and in-home care.

The following is an analysis on the government's efforts for setting up welfare institutions and taking care of disabled citizens for the past decade. It is for reference of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) and other government agencies.

I. There are 649 thousand mentally/physically disabled citizens and the annual growth rate is 17%. The disabled citizens account for 3% of total population. Among them, 43% of the disabled citizens are with limb handicapped.

Citizens receiving disable manuals in Taiwan Area increase from 154 thousand people in 1990 to be 649 thousand in 1999. There is an increase of 3.2 times and the annual growth rate is 17.3%. This is due to the facts that the government expands the scope of mentally/physically disabled, encourages the disabled citizens to receive disabled manuals, promotes welfare provided to the disabled citizens, and actively takes care of the living of such persons.

By the end of 1999, 43.3% of disabled citizens (281 thousand persons) are with limb handicapped. 10.7% of disabled citizens (69 thousand persons) are with hearing or balancing mechanism handicapped. 10.5% of disabled citizens (68 thousand persons) are mentally handicapped. 10.2% of disabled citizens (66 thousand persons) are with multi-handicapped. 8.2% of disabled citizens (53 thousand persons) lose functions of primary organ. 7.5% of disabled citizens (48 thousand persons) chronic psychosis victims. The remaining 18,000 citizens are with vision handicapped, suffering facial damage, unconscious chronically, Alzheimer disease, autism victims and other types of illness. They account for a lower percentage.

To observe the age of disabled citizens, 34.3% of disabled citizens (222,000 persons) are more than 65 years old, which are the most. 25.1% of disabled citizens (163 thousand persons) are at the age of 45 to 64. 5.6% of disabled citizens (37 thousand persons) are at the age of 0 to 14. Among the disabled citizens of more than 65 years old, citizens with disabled limb function account for 46.6%. Citizens with hearing or balance mechanism handicapped account for 18.9%. Citizens with multi-handicapped account for 9.5%. Citizens with lose functions of primary organ account for 9.1%. Citizens with vision handicapped account for 8.6%. This is caused by the gradual deteriorating bodily functions of the elderly.

With respect to percentage of various types of disabled citizens 65 years and older to total number of disabled citizens, 15.9% of such disabled citizens are with limb handicapped. 6.5% of such disabled citizens are with hearing or balance mechanism handicapped. 3.2% of such disabled citizens are with multi-handicapped. 3.1% of such disabled citizens lose functions of primary organ. 3.0% of such disabled citizens are with vision handicapped.

Taipei Municipality accounts for 12.1% of such disabled citizens (78 thousand persons), which are the most. Taipei County accounts for 11.9% of such disabled citizens (77 thousand persons). Taichung County accounts for 6.5% of such disabled citizens (42 thousand persons). There are 1,869 persons in Fuchien Province, which are the fewest (Kinmen County has 1,712 persons and Lienchiang County has 157 persons).

With regards to percentage of number of disabled citizens to total population, disabled citizens in Taiwan Area and Taiwan-Fuchien Area account for 2.94% of total population. The percentage is 2.98% in Taiwan Province. The percentage is 2.97% in Taipei Municipality. The percentage is 2.31% in Kaohsiung Municipality. The percentage is 3.21% in Fuchien Province. Among various counties and cities in Taiwan Province, Hualien and Taitung County have the highest percentages, which are 5.76% and 5.57%, respectively. The percentage is 2.21% in Taoyuan County, 2.20% in Taipei County, 2.11% in Taichung City and 2.26% in Hsinchu City.

II. The number of welfare institutions for the disabled has increased 100% for the past 8 years.

The number of welfare institutions for the mentally/physically disabled citizens in Taiwan Area increases over the year, from 66 in 1992 to be 131 in 1999. There is an increase of 65 institutions, which is nearly 100%. The number of welfare service centers for disabled citizens increases form 11 in 1992 to be 13 in 1999. Among the welfare institutions by the end of 1999, 74.8% of the institutions (98 institutions) are privately owned. 8.4% of the institutions (11 institutions) are publicly owned. 16.8% of the institutions (22 institutions) are set up by the government but run by the private organization. 71% of the institutions (93 institutions) are located in Taiwan Province. 21.4% of the institutions (28 institutions) are located in Taipei Municipality. 5.3% (7 institutions) are located in Kaohsiung Municipality. There are 2.3% institutions of MOI.

In terms of available bed counts of the institutions, there are in total 9,595 beds in welfare institutions by the end of 1999. Taiwan Province has 7,829 beds, which account for 81.6%. MOI subsidiary agencies have 900 beds, which account for 9.4%. Taipei Municipality has 775 beds, which account for 8.1%. Kaohsiung Municipality has 91 beds, which account for 0.9%. In terms of operational mode, private institutions have 6,803 beds, which account for 70.9%. Public institutions have 1,956 beds, which account for 20.4%. Publicly owned institutions run by private organizations have 836 beds, which account for 8.7%. In addition, welfare service centers have 156 beds.

In terms of number of persons accommodated by the institutions, there are in total 6,389 persons accommodated by the welfare institutions by the end of 1999. Among them, pubic institutions accommodate 1,546 persons, which account for 24.2%. Private institutions accommodate 4,393 persons, which account for 68.8%. Publicly owned institutions run by private organizations accommodate 451 persons, which account for 7.0%. Service centers accommodate 158 persons. By the end of 1999, welfare institutions for disabled citizens take care of 4,010 persons daily. Among them, public institutions take care of 284 persons daily, which account for 7.1%. Private institutions take care of 3,009 persons daily, which account for 75%. Publicly owned institutions run by private organizations take care of 717 persons daily, which account for 17.9%. Service centers take care of 46 persons daily. In total, 61,940 person-times receive such various welfare services.

III. The use rate of beds in all institutions is 67%. The use rate of beds in public institutions is 79%. The use rate of beds in MOI subsidiary agencies is 97%.

In terms of the percentage of persons accommodated to number of beds, the overall use rate of beds is 66.6%. Public institutions have a highest use rate of beds, which is 79%. Private institutions have a use rate of 64.6%. Publicly owned institutions run by private organizations have a use rate of 53.9%.

In terms of institutions in different areas, MOI subsidiary agencies have the highest use rate of bed, which is 97.1%. Kaohsiung Municipality has a use rate of 81.3%. Taipei Municipality has a use rate of 70.7% and Taiwan Province has a use rate of 62.5%.

IV. In 1999, the subsidies in the disabled citizens' living, auxiliary apparatus and baby care amount to 8.97 billion NT dollars. The average annual growth rate is 48%.

The government's subsidies for disabled citizens' living, auxiliary apparatus and baby care/nurturing are increasing over the years. Various subsidies in Taiwan Area (including subsidies for living, auxiliary apparatus and baby care/nurturing) increase from 585.824 million NT dollars in 1992 to be 8 billions 967.607 million NT dollars in 1999. The average annual growth rate is 47.7%. Among them, the subsidy for living increases from 192.727 million NT dollars in 1992 to be 7 billions 13.85 million NT dollars in 1999. The average annual growth rate is 67.1%. The subsidy in auxiliary apparatus increases from 204.576 million NT dollars in 1992 to be 865.969 million NT dollars in 1999. The average annual growth rate is 22.9%. The subsidy for baby care/nurturing increases from 188.521 million NT dollars in 1992 to be one billion 87.788 million NT dollars in 1999. The average annual growth rate is 28.5%.

In terms of subsidy for living, 347 thousand persons receive the subsidy in 1999. Among them, there are 56 thousand persons from low-income households, which account for 16.2%. There are 291,000 persons from middle-and-low-income households, which account for 83.8%. The subsidy in this category amounts to 7 billion 13.85 million NT dollars. Among them, 2 billion 245.485 millions dollars (32%) are for low-income households and 4 billion 768.365 (68%) are for middle-and-low-income households.

In terms of subsidy for auxiliary apparatus, 47 thousand persons receive such a subsidy in 1999. Among them, there are 2 thousand persons from low-income households, which account for 4.7%. There are 45 thousand persons form middle-and-low-income households, which account for 95.3%. The subsidy in this category amounts to 865.969 million NT dollars. Among them, 42.617 million NT dollars (4.9%) are for low-income households. 823.352 million NT dollars (95.1%) are for middle-and-low-income households.

In terms of baby care/nurturing, there are in total 7,697 persons receiving the subsidy in 1999. Among them, 5,513 persons (71.6%) receive Lodging/caring. 2,184 persons (28.4%) receive day-care. The subsidy in this category amounts to one billion 87.788 million NT dollars. Among them, 935.786 million NT dollars (86%) are for Lodging/caring. 152.003 million NT dollars (14%) are for day-care.

In summary, in order to enhance the services to mentally/physically disabled citizens, the government endeavors to provide pertinent budgets for welfare expenditures and to promote various welfare measures. For the second half of 1999 and the first half of 2000, the central government and the local governments provide a budget of 20 billion 710.164 million NT dollars in total (including welfare expenditures and insurance expense). The central government accounts for more than 50% of the total social welfare budget. In addition, related subsidy items and standards are properly adjusted according to fiscal ability of the government and the principle of fairness. The rules for providing welfare subsidies to mentally/physically disabled citizens for living, baby care and nurturing are properly revised. Thus, pertinent assistance can be provided to the disabled citizens for supporting their economic life according to different classification, levels of disability and their family condition. Thus, every disabled citizen and their family can receive pertinent assistance and can have a stable life with dignity.