Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Monday that the move to combine the city’s two old-age allowance payments into one to allow elderly residents to benefit from a higher welfare cash subsidy will come in September. With the Normal Old Age Living Allowance and the Higher Old Age Living Allowance combined into one subsidy, as well as applicants assessed under more lenient eligibility criteria, elderly residents currently missing out on a higher subsidy rate under the Old Age Living Allowance scheme will get a HK$990 boost every month. The Normal and the Higher Old Age Living Allowance are currently pitched at HK$2,920 and HK$3,915 per month respectively. Speaking on a radio program on Monday, the outgoing Hong Kong leader said the new measure is set to benefit some 50,000 elderly residents receiving the Normal Old Age Living Allowance in September. Meanwhile, commenting on her administration’s performance under her term, Lam said she had delivered a “decent report card” on livelihood issues.

Source: The Standard June 20, 2022 11:40 UTC