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社會上未必每個人都生活無憂，政府為有需要的市民，提供不同社會福利，當中不少與長者有關。這一節「長者法網智多聲」，就為大家介紹一下不同的長者社會福利。
眾多種類的社會福利之中，相信大家最熟悉的就是「生果金」。「生果金」正式的名稱是「高齡津貼。老友記到了70歲，無論有錢還是無錢，都可以申請「生果金」。而正領取「綜合社會保障援助」（即「綜援」）的人，就不可以有雙重福利了，所以不能同時領取「生果金」。
特區政府在2013年引入「長者生活津貼」，向年滿65歲或以上符合資格的長者，每個月發放一筆比生果金更多的津貼，作為扶貧措施。年滿65歲的老友記，資產和入息限額不超過規定的話，就可以申請，詳情可以參考長者社區法網文字版。
至於申請綜援就有更多要求。除了要通過入息審查和資產審查之外，受助人亦不可以離港太久，好像是60歲或以上、或傷殘受助人，每年就不可以離港超過180日。
有些老友記選擇在內地養老，政府就推出了「綜援長者廣東及福建省養老計劃」，向符合資格、並且在廣東或福建省養老的綜援受助長者，繼續提供現金援助。
不合符資格申領綜援、正租住私人樓宇單位的老友記，如果有需要和符合資格，就可以考慮申請關愛基金的津貼。
有關各種社會福利和津貼的詳情和申請方法，大家可以參考長者社區法網文字版，或向社會福利署和關愛基金查詢。
記住了，無論申請甚麼社會援助也好，都要誠實，提供的資料要準確和全面。如果申請人或其他家庭成員狀況，有甚麼改變，而這些改變有可能影響到援助金的話，都記得要通知社署，因為蓄意提供假的資料或漏報資料來騙綜援或福利金，不單會喪失領取福利的資格，還可能會惹官非。騙綜援或其他資助，是犯了欺詐罪，最高可被判監禁14年。「社會保障科」轄下的「特別調查組」會調查涉嫌欺詐的個案，還會計算及追收多發放的金錢。
也有一些優惠是「人人有份」的。年滿65歲的老友記，可以申請「長者咭」
PrintComprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme
The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme offers a safety net to individuals who are unable to financially sustain themselves and meet their basic needs.
Eligibility
1. Residence requirement
The applicant must:
- be a Hong Kong resident;
- have held the Hong Kong resident status for not less than 1 year; and
- have resided in Hong Kong for at least 1 year (since acquiring the Hong Kong resident status to the date prior to the date of application). The one-year residence need not be continuous or immediately before the date of application. Absence(s) from Hong Kong up to a maximum of 56 days (whether continuous or intermittent) before the date of application is/are treated as residence in Hong Kong.
2. Financial tests
The applicant must pass both the income and asset tests:
Income test
The total assessable monthly household income of the applicant and his/her family must be insufficient to meet their total monthly needs as recognized under the Scheme.
Asset test
The applicant and his/her family’s capital assets must be within the prescribed asset limits (see below).
Note: Any resident aged 65 or above is regarded as “elderly” in applying for CSSA.
3. Additional criteria for able-bodied adults
Persons aged 15 to 59 in normal health should actively seek full-time jobs and participate in the Support for Self-reliance Scheme of the Social Welfare Department if they are unemployed or with monthly earnings or working hours less than the prescribed levels set by the Department.
Can CSSA recipients still receive assistance if they leave Hong Kong?
Temporary absence from Hong Kong does not affect payments under the CSSA provided the number of days the recipient is absent in a payment year (counted from 1 July to 30 June of the following year) does not exceed the following limits:
- Recipients aged 65 or above and recipients medically certified as disabled: 180 days a year.
- Other recipients: 60 days a year.
(The permissible limit of absence from Hong Kong can be extended up to 90 days at the discretion of Director of Social Welfare for those whose absence exceeds 60 days for special reasons.)
What are the asset limits for applying for CSSA?
| For single persons: | ||||
| Able-bodied adults | $35,500 | |||
| Person aged 65 or above/child/disabled person | $53,000 | |||
| For families: | ||||
| Able-bodied adults/children | Persons aged 65 or above, disabled persons or persons medically certified to be in ill-health | |||
| No. of such members | Asset limit | No. of such members | Asset limit | |
| 1 | $23,500 | 1 | $53,000 | |
| 2 | $47,000 | 2 | $79,500 | |
| 3 | $70,500 | 3 | $106,000 | |
| 4 or above | $94,000 | 4 | $132,500 | |
| 5 | $159,000 | |||
| 6 | $185,500 | |||
For example, the asset limit of a 7-member family, including two able-bodied adults, three able-bodied children, one disabled child and one elderly person, is $173,500 (i.e. $94,000 + $79,500).
The Social Welfare Department’s website has tables listing the current asset limits for applying for CSSA.
What does the CSSA consist of?
| Type of payment | Description |
| Standard rates |
|
| Long term supplement (payable annually to families if they have received assistance continuously for 12 months or more) |
|
| Other supplements |
|
| Special grants |
|
How can I apply?
- You can file your application in person or by phone, fax, email or post to a social security field unit. Please click here for the addresses and telephone numbers of the social security field units.
- An application may also be made through a referral to the Social Welfare Department by another government department or non-governmental organisation.
- The supporting documents required are as follows: (1) your personal details, (2) home address, (3) monthly income and assets value of you and your spouse, (4) travel documents, (5) account particulars of your guardian/agent, and (6) your declaration and undertaking.
- The calculation of the allowance payment is made immediately after the application is received.
As a CSSA applicant, do I have to report to the Social Welfare Department any changes in the circumstances of my family member(s) or me?
As such changes may affect your CSSA entitlement, you or your guardian/appointee should promptly report any change in the information that has been provided to the Social Welfare Department, including the following:
- Changes in employment, income, financial resources, school or family circumstances, or expenditure;
- The total value of assets exceeding the prescribed asset limit;
- Absence from Hong Kong exceeding the limits mentioned above;
- Admission to, or discharge from, any residential institution; or
- Detention or imprisonment.
For an introduction to the CSSA and its application, please click here to visit the Social Welfare Department’s website.