TAIPEI: The number of low-income households in Taiwan hit a record high in the third quarter, with the individual members of such households accounting for 1.08 percent of the total population, the internal affairs authorities said yesterday.

According to an official survey, the number of low-income households in the third quarter stood at 102,759, compared to 90,525 in the same period in 2008 and almost double the number 10 years ago when there were only 58,310.

The figure represented 249,834 people, or 1.08 percent of Taiwan's population of 23 million, an increase of 32,434 people compared to the previous year. A decade ago, the number of individuals in low-income households in Taiwan was 136,691, the authorities added.

Huang Pi-hsia, director-general of the Department of Social Affairs under the internal affairs authorities, said that the number of low-income families in Taiwan has been gradually increasing over the past several years.

"This trend is due to the economic downturn and the fact that the government has relaxed the eligibility requirements to allow subsidies for more people," she added.

The authorities have invited local governments, scholars and experts to revise the Social Assistance Act to redefine the poverty line, set up an overall structure to help mid- and low-income families, and strengthen measures to fight poverty, according to Huang.

The Social Assistance Act defines low-income families as those whose total income divided by the number of individual members is lower than the minimum cost of living.

The minimum cost of living is computed by the authorities at various levels as 60 percent of the most recent annual consumption expenditure per capita announced by the central Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 12/01/2009 page2)