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(i) Old Age Allowance
:
the
To be eligble for an Old Age Allowance, a person must have resided continuously in Hong Kong for at least five years prior to attaining the qualifying age and is not in receipt of a Disability Allowance. Effective from 1 September
1988,
Allowance was extended by phases to
extended by phases to those aged below 70. The Allowance is non-means tested for those aged 70 and above who are currently entitled to a higher rate of $393 a month. For those aged 66-69, the monthly rate is $343, subject to resources limits at a monthly income of $2,100 (Singleton)/$3,200 (Married Couple) and asset of $100,000 (Singleton)/$150,000 (Married Couple). The qualifying age will be lowered to 65 in April 1991.
(ii) Disability Allowance
The Allowance is non-means tested. To qualify for a
Disability Allowance, a person must
must have been certified by the
Director of Hospital Services or the Director of Health to be severely disabled within the meaning of the scheme, have resided in Hong Kong for one year immediately before the date of claiming the allowance, continue to reside in Hong Kong and not be in receipt of an Old Age Allowance. The current rate is $685 per month. A higher rate of Disability Allowance (twice the normal rate - currently $1,370 per month) was introduced in April 1989 to provide greater financial assistance to those severely disabled persons aged 60 and above who require constant attendance from others in their daily life as certified by the Director of Hospital Services or the Director of Health or the Director of Social Welfare but are not receiving such care in a Government or subvented institution.
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