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SWD to re-launch one-year Special One-off Arrangement under the Guangdong Scheme in July
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     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (June 14) that the department will re-launch the Special One-off Arrangement (special arrangement) under the Guangdong (GD) Scheme from July 1 for one year. The special arrangement will exempt eligible elderly persons who have already resided in GD from the requirement of having resided in Hong Kong (HK) continuously for at least one year immediately before the date of application.

     An SWD spokesman said, "The Chief Executive announced in his 2017 Policy Address that in order to facilitate elderly persons to retire on the Mainland, the special arrangement will be re-launched under the GD Scheme for one year. With the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2017 by the Legislative Council on May 18, the SWD will re-launch this special arrangement during the period from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 to allow HK elderly persons who have already resided in GD and satisfied all other eligibility criteria (including age and a means test for applicants aged 65 to 69), but who have failed to meet the one year continuous residence in HK requirement, to benefit from the GD Scheme without having to return to and stay in HK for one year. However, the applicants must have resided in GD continuously for at least one year (with a grace period of 56 days) immediately before the date of application. Applicants who do not need to apply through this special arrangement may make their applications according to the existing eligibility criteria and application procedures."

     The spokesman said that eligible elderly persons who intend to apply for the GD Scheme under the special arrangement may make applications to the SWD from tomorrow (June 15). The SWD will process the relevant applications from the implementation date of the special arrangement (i.e. July 1). Applicants may complete the application form and post it together with copies of relevant supporting documents and two recent photos to the Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme) at Room 2110-2111, 21/F, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, HK. Upon receipt of an application, the SWD will make an appointment with the applicant to complete the application procedures in HK in person.

     The SWD has appointed the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK) as the agent for the GD Scheme to conduct case reviews, assist applicants who are unfit to travel to HK owing to health reasons in completing application procedures, handle enquiries from beneficiaries of the GD Scheme and so forth.

     Relevant application forms and guidance notes can be downloaded from the SWD's webpage www.swd.gov.hk/gds/index_e.html and are also available at all social security field units in HK as well as various designated venues in GD, including various ISS-HK offices in GD. Applicants can also request an application form from the Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme) by phone (3105 3266) or by post.

     The spokesman added that the asset limits applicable to applicants aged 65 to 69 have been adjusted upward from May 1. The relevant income and new asset limits are as follows:

 
  Single Person Married Couple
Total income per month $7,750 $12,620
Total asset value $329,000 $499,000

     The spokesman added that the GD Scheme provides the Old Age Allowance (OAA) to eligible HK elderly persons who choose to reside in GD, without requiring them to return to HK each year. At present, eligible HK elderly persons may receive the OAA at $1,325 per month. A recipient under the GD Scheme must continue to reside in GD. The recipient will be required to reside in GD for at least 60 days within a payment year to obtain a full year's payment of allowance.  

     For enquiries on the GD Scheme, citizens may call the Social Security Field Unit (Guangdong Scheme) at 3105 3266 or browse SWD's webpage (www.swd.gov.hk/gds/index_e.html).

     The Chief Executive announced in his 2017 Policy Address that the Government will introduce the Fujian (FJ) Scheme to provide the monthly OAA for eligible HK elderly persons who choose to reside in FJ. It is expected that the FJ Scheme would be implemented at the beginning of the 2018-19 financial year at the earliest. The SWD will announce the actual implementation date and details in due course.
 
Ends/Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00
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