The Government announced today (December 31) that the Caring and Sharing Scheme will receive applications from February 1 to April 30, 2019. 

     "Application forms will be available from January 21, 2019 on the dedicated website (css.gov.hk); or at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department and the Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) or Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency," a government spokesman said.

     A person who meets the following eligibility criteria as at today may apply for receiving $4,000 under the Scheme:

(a) is aged 18 or above;

(b) holds a Hong Kong Identity Card (including new arrivals, but excluding Hong Kong non-permanent residents who have been admitted to Hong Kong to work, study, or receive training and their dependants, and excluding individuals who have entered Hong Kong as visitors);

(c) ordinarily resides in Hong Kong (including those who are temporarily away from Hong Kong but would reasonably be expected to return to live in Hong Kong, for example, those on duty trips, overseas studies, medical treatment, but excluding those who have emigrated);

(d) is not benefiting from the two-month extra allowance of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Old Age Living Allowance, Old Age Allowance, or Disability Allowance announced in the 2018-19 Budget;

(e) need not pay salaries tax for the Year of Assessment (YA) 2017/18; and

(f) does not own any property in Hong Kong.

     If a person meets criteria (a) to (e) above but owns only one property in Hong Kong which is used as his/her principal place of residence, and with an amount of rates concession for 2018-19 of less than $4,000, he/she may apply for the difference between $4,000 and the amount of rates concession. Any person who owns a property in Hong Kong which is not used as his/her principal place of residence, or who owns more than one property in Hong Kong, will not be eligible for the Scheme.

     For a person who meets criteria (a) to (d) above but needs to pay salaries tax for YA 2017/18:
     
(a) if he/she does not own any property in Hong Kong and the salaries tax concession he/she receives for YA 2017/18 is less than $4,000, he/she may apply for the difference between $4,000 and the amount of salaries tax concession; or

(b) if he/she owns only one property in Hong Kong which is used as his/her principal place of residence, and the salaries tax concession for YA 2017/18 and rates concession for 2018-19 that he/she receives is less than $4,000 in aggregate, he/she may apply for the difference between $4,000 and the aggregate tax and rates concessions.

     The WFAO will publicise the eligibility criteria for the Scheme and the application arrangements through various channels. Apart from broadcasting Announcement in the Public Interest on television and radio, posters will be displayed and leaflets distributed at various government offices. Briefings will also be organised for stakeholders and interested groups.

     Details of the Scheme are available on the dedicated website. For enquiries, please call the 24-hour hotline (3897 1088).

Ends/Monday, December 31, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:00

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