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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」
Guangdong Scheme/Fujian Scheme
The Guangdong Scheme and the Fujian Scheme have been launched since 1 October 2013 and 1 April 2018 respectively and are receiving applications now. From 1 January 2020, eligable applicants can apply for Old Age Allowance (OAA) (Fruit Money) /Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) (including Normal OALA and Higher OALA) under the Schemes.
Eligibility
Income and asset limits
OAA:
There is no income or assets assessment.
OALA:
Single person (HKD) |
Married couple (HKD) |
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Normal OALA |
Total income per month |
$10,330 |
$15,620 |
Total asset |
$365,000 |
$554,000 |
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Higher OALA |
Toal income per month |
$10,330 |
$15,620 |
Total asset |
$159,000 |
$241,000 |
“Income” includes:
- wages from employment;
- income from handiwork, business, etc. (including salaries, wages, monthly commissions or bonuses, and monthly income from self-employment);
- retirement benefits/pensions;
- net income from rentals collected; and
- payout from the annuity scheme(s).
Contributions from family members, relatives or friends, and monthly payments received under the reverse-mortgage scheme are excluded, but any accumulated and unspent savings/cash in hand is treated as part of the applicant’s “assets”.
“Assets” include:
- land or other non-owner occupied properties;
- cash in hand;
- bank savings;
- investments in shares and stocks (including bonds, trust funds and accrued retirement benefits);
- vehicles for investment (e.g. taxi or public light bus) and their business licences; and
- gold bars, gold coins, etc.
Also excluded are owner-occupied properties, a columbarium niche for self-use in the future, and the cash value of insurance schemes.
Only the value of one residential property which is the applicant’s principal place of residence in Guangdong/Fujian is not included in the “assets”. Other properties separately or jointly owned by applicants and/or their spouse are regarded as “non-owner occupied properties” and are taken into account in the assessment of “assets”.
Assets in Hong Kong, Macau, the Mainland and overseas are included.
Residence requirements
Applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
- They have been Hong Kong residents for at least seven years; and
- They must have continuously resided in Hong Kong for at least one year before the date of application (see Note below).
Note:
Absence from Hong Kong no more than 56 days during the one-year period is treated as residence in Hong Kong.
Consideration can be given to disregarding absences of more than 56 days because of paid work outside Hong Kong during the one-year period, if there is sufficient documentary proof.
If an applicant has been away from Hong Kong for more than 56 days during the one-year period in order to receive medical treatment outside Hong Kong, the Director of Social Welfare can consider exercising his discretion to disregard the 56-day limit requirement, depending on the reason for receiving medical treatment outside Hong Kong and the evidence provided.
Absence from Hong Kong means leaving Hong Kong for the Mainland, Macau or overseas countries/territories.
Other requirements
- They continue to reside in Guangdong/Fujian while receiving the allowance;
- They are not receiving any other allowances under the Social Security Allowance Scheme or assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme;
- They are not being detained in legal custody or in a penal institution;
- They have surrendered their public rental unit or removed their name from the tenancy if they were authorized public housing tenants.
Application procedure
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- Applicants are first required to complete the Guangdong Scheme Application Form (click here to download the form) or the Fujian Scheme Application Form (click here to download the form) and return the Form by post, together with the following supporting documents:
- photocopies of any documents confirming the applicant’s identity and age (e.g. Hong Kong Identity Card or Birth Certificate);
- photocopies of any documents confirming the applicant’s residential address in Hong Kong/Guangdong/Fujian (e.g. rental receipts or utilities bills);
- photocopies of the applicant’s Hong Kong bank account passbook (the page showing the account name and account number); and
- two recent photos.
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- The postal address is:
- Applicants are first required to complete the Guangdong Scheme Application Form (click here to download the form) or the Fujian Scheme Application Form (click here to download the form) and return the Form by post, together with the following supporting documents:
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- Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme)
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- Unit 2110-2111, 21/F., Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong.
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- When the application is received, an officer of the Social Welfare Department may ask for supplementary information if necessary.
- An officer of the Social Welfare Department will then make arrangements with the applicant for an interview at the Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme). The applicant has to attend the interview in person in Hong Kong and provide the relevant documents in order to complete the application.
Receiving the allowance
The allowance will be deposited to the Hong Kong bank account designated by the applicant. For elderly persons who are unable to open a bank account in Hong Kong, they may authorise a relative or friend to receive the payment on their behalf. If recipients want to transfer the allowance to Guangdong/Fujian, they have to make the arrangements themselves and pay for any fees charged for the transfer.
Enquiries
Guangdong Scheme/Fujian Scheme hotline: 3105 3266
Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme)
Address: Unit 2110-2111, 21/F., Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong.
Website: www.swd.gov.hk/gds (Guangdong Scheme)
www.swd.gov.hk/fjs (Fujian Scheme)
You can download the Application for Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme Guidance Notes here.