The system which is being used for persons to be exempted from the surcharge is clear and one can apply for a rebate on the electricity meter and the surcharge exemption from the department’s district offices, the Department of Social Security said yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, the department said that those who qualify for a rebate do not need to apply again for a surcharge exemption as the criteria are established by a means test.

The government has also extended this rebate to families who have a dependent member or one suffering from a medical condition. The criteria here is that total family income cannot exceed Lm13,270 annually.

The department said that 2,300 applicants were struck off the rebate register due to the fact that an extensive examination revealed that these persons did not continue qualifying for assistance in this manner.

It also denied that it is striking people off the assistance register on the basis of anonymous telephone calls.