Social welfare for the elderly

Old Age Allowance (fruit money)

The Old Age Allowance (fruit money) is a kind of Social Security Allowance Scheme which is available for Hong Kong residents who are at least 70 years old. A cash allowance is given to the eligible residents on a monthly basis to meet their needs arising from old age.

The OAA (currently $1,475 per month) is for residents aged 70 or above, and there is no income or assets assessment.

For more details on Old Age Allowances, please visit the Social Welfare Department website.

How do I know if I am eligible for the Old Age Allowance (fruit money)

To be eligible for the Social Security Allowance Scheme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You must have been a Hong Kong resident for at least seven years;
  • You must be at least 70 years old;
  • You must have continuously resided in Hong Kong for at least one year before the date of application (see Note below);
  • You must continue to reside in Hong Kong during receipt of Old Age Allowance; and
  • You are not receiving any other allowances under the Social Security Allowance Scheme or Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA).

Note:

Continuously means not having resided outside Hong Kong for more than 56 days during that one-year period.

If an elderly person applying for the Old Age Allowance has been absent from Hong Kong for more than 56 days during the one-year period immediately before the date of application, to satisfy the one-year-continuous-residence requirement, he/she will have to reside in Hong Kong until the total number of days of residence in Hong Kong from the date of application is no less than the number of days of absence exceeding the 56-day limit during the one-year period. For example, if an elderly person applying for the Old Age Allowance has been absent from Hong Kong for 96 days during the one-year period immediately before the date of application, he/she will have to reside in Hong Kong for 40 more days (96 days – 56 days) from the date of application.

Can I benefit from both the Social Security Allowance and the Comprehensive Social Security Scheme?

No, you may not receive benefits from the Social Security Allowance if you are a beneficiary of the Comprehensive Social Security Scheme.

How can I apply for the Social Security Allowance?

  • You can apply to a social security field unit or ask a friend/relative to do so for you. This may be done in person, or by phone, fax, email or post. Please click here for the addresses of the social security field units.
  • You can be referred to the Social Welfare Department by another government department or non-governmental organization.
  • You can complete the 'Social Security Allowance Scheme Application Form' and return it, together with photocopies of the relevant supporting documents, to a social security field unit. You can download the 'Social Security Allowance Scheme Application Form here.
  • The relevant supporting documents are as follows: (1) your personal details, (2) home address, (3) monthly income and assets value of you and your spouse, (4) travel documents, (5) the account particulars of your guardian/agent, and (6) your personal declaration and undertaking.
  • Calculation of the allowance payment begins immediately after the application is received.

For more details concerning the Social Security Allowance Scheme, please click here.