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A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (October 16) reminded elderly persons that the retrospective payment arrangement under the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) will expire on December 31, 2013. Eligible elderly persons are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible, such that they will receive the retrospective payment counting from December 1, 2012 at the earliest.
The retrospective payment arrangement is a one-off special arrangement under OALA. For applications received by the SWD on or before December 31, 2013, including Phase 2–"Postal Submission: and Phase 3–"New Application", eligible elderly persons will receive a lump sum payment in arrears (after deducting Old Age Allowance or Disability Allowance payments already made for the corresponding period) counting from the effective date (that is, December 1, 2012) or the eligibility date for OALA, whichever is later, and the subsequent monthly payments.
For applications received by the SWD after December 31, 2013, eligible elderly persons will only be entitled to receive OALA payments from the date of application or the date of eligibility, whichever is later.
The spokesman said that OALA, which was launched in April 2013, provides a monthly allowance of $2,200 for eligible elderly persons. So far, more than 399 000 eligible elderly persons have already received the allowance. For the eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions on OALA, please visit the SWD website: www.swd.gov.hk/oala/index_e.html#s6 or call the OALA hotline 3595 0130.
Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:01
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