Recipients of social security payments and WFA to receive one-off extra allowance

     The Government today (June 4) announced that, as set out in the 2024-25 Budget, a one-off extra allowance equal to one half of the monthly payment or allowance will be provided to eligible recipients of social security payments, including the recipients of the standard rate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Old Age Allowance, Old Age Living Allowance and Disability Allowance. Similar arrangements will apply to households in receipt of Working Family Allowance (WFA). The above recipients will receive the extra allowance starting from today (details in the Annex).

     A Government spokesman said that recipients who were eligible for social security payments on May 8, 2024 (i.e. the date on which the Legislative Council approved the Appropriation Bill 2024), and the households from which WFA applications were made from November 1, 2023, to May 8, 2024, and approved would be eligible for the one-off extra allowance. It is estimated that about 1.66 million social security recipients and about 64 000 WFA households would benefit from the arrangements, involving a total of about $3 billion in extra allowance. The payment will be credited to the designated Hong Kong bank accounts of the eligible recipients/households and no separate application is required.

     For enquiries, recipients of social security payments may call the hotline (2343 2255) of the Social Welfare Department or contact the respective Social Security Field Unit. As for enquiries on the WFA Scheme, please call the hotline (2558 3000) of the Working Family Allowance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency.