09.01.01. Disability grants, pensions, old age grants, and any other form of cash benefits | Hong Kong SAR

09.01.01. Disability grants, pensions, old age grants, and any other form of cash benefits | Hong Kong SAR

22 Aug 2022

Old age grants and disability grants, namely Old Age Allowance and Disability Allowance respectively, are available in Hong Kong and cover people with dementia. Older adults aged 70 and over in Hong Kong are eligible for Old Age Allowance. Those with more financial difficulties may apply for the means-tested Old Age Living Allowance or the Comprehensive Social Security Allowance Scheme (Social Welfare Department, 2019, July 30; 2019, September 6). People with dementia who are severely disabled, regardless of their age and financial situation, are eligible for Disability Allowance. Please refer to ‘Part 1, Social Protection’ for further information on the eligibility and cash amount of various social protection schemes in Hong Kong.

About pensions, the Hong Kong Government has implemented the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme from 2000 to provide retirement protection. It is a mandatory, privately managed, and fully funded contribution system. Under this scheme, employers and employees are required to make regular mandatory contributions calculated at 5% of the employee’s income, subjected to the relevant income levels (Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, 2019, April 1). For employees with monthly income over HK$30,000, the monthly contributions by both employers and employees are capped at HK$1,500. Besides mandatory contributions, employees are encouraged to make voluntary contributions and enjoy tax deductions. Same as any employees, people with dementia and their carers are covered by the MPF scheme. However, there are no additional benefits in relation to dementia.

References:

Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. (2019, April 1). Contributions. Retrieved from http://www.mpfa.org.hk/eng/mpf_system/system_features/contributions/index.jsp

Social Welfare Department. (2019, July 30). Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_comprehens/

Social Welfare Department. (2019, September 6). Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_ssallowance/