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A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (July 20) reminded elderly persons that the one-off special arrangement in the first year of implementing the Guangdong (GD) Scheme will expire on September 30, 2014. Eligible elderly persons are advised to apply as early as possible.
The spokesman pointed out that in the first year of implementing the GD Scheme (i.e., from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014), a one-off special arrangement is in place to allow elderly persons who do not meet the requirement of residing in Hong Kong continuously for one year immediately before the date of application, but have already moved to GD and have satisfied all other eligibility criteria, to benefit from the Scheme without the need to return and stay in Hong Kong. These applicants must have resided in GD for at least one year immediately before the date of application, and they have to provide documentary proof of their residential addresses in GD (such as rental receipts, electricity bills, etc) together with their applications. The special arrangement will expire on September 30 this year and, after that, applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements, including residing in Hong Kong continuously for one year immediately before the date of application, in order to be eligible for the allowance.
The spokesman said that the GD Scheme aims to enable eligible elderly persons aged 65 or above who choose to reside in GD to receive Old Age Allowance without the need to return to Hong Kong each year. Once they have resided in GD for 60 days within a payment year, they will be entitled to a full-year allowance. Currently, the rate of allowance is HK$1,180 per month.
The SWD has been receiving GD Scheme applications since August 2013 and as at mid-July 2014 around 19 000 applications had been received, with more than 16 800 elderly persons already receiving the allowance.
Elderly persons who wish to apply for the GD Scheme can download the application form and guidance notes from the SWD GD Scheme website, or obtain the documents from the Social Security Field Unit (GD Scheme) by phone or by post. Applicants are required to return the completed application form, together with copies of relevant supporting documents and two recent photos, to the Social Security Field Unit (GD Scheme) by post for application (address: Room 2110-2111, 21/F, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong). Upon receipt of an application, the SWD will make an appointment with the applicant to complete the application procedures at the Social Security Field Unit (GD Scheme).
For enquiries, please visit the GD Scheme website (www.swd.gov.hk/gds) or call the GD Scheme enquiry hotline at 3105 3266.
Ends/Sunday, July 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01
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