Residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) who wish to be exempted from the 183-day minimum stay requirement for eligibility in the government’s 2025 wealth-sharing scheme may submit an application to the Social Security Fund (FSS) for eligibility between next Wednesday and December 31, 2028, the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) has announced in a statement.
According to the statement released yesterday, applicants may invoke any of the eight reasons specified by the respective administrative regulation (bylaw) for why their physical absence from Macau for more than 183 days last year should be regarded as them having stayed here. If the government deems the 183-day minimum stay requirement to be met, the wealth-sharing allocation will be granted.
Residents can use the “Macao One Account,” the government’s wealth-sharing scheme website (https://www.planocp.gov.mo/), or apply by mail (Macao SAR PO Box No. 3094) to proceed with their application. Alternatively, they can visit any of the government’s five service centres to submit the application forms in person.
Service Centres
The five service centres are located on the Macau peninsula and Taipa and Coloane islands:
Integrated Services Centre (762-804 Avenida da Praia Grande, China Plaza, 2/F)
Macao Government Services Centre (52 Rua Nova da Areia Preta)
Central District Public Services Centre (5-7 Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, Complexo da Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, 3/F)
Macao Government Services Centre for Taipa and Coloane (225 Rua de Coimbra, 3/F, Taipa)
Islands District Public Services Centre - Seac Pai Van Station (Avenida de Vale das Borboletas, Seac Pai Van, Community Complex, 6/F, Coloane)
The service centres are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Following its start next Wednesday (June 18), the Social Security Fund will generally require approximately 10 working days to complete the review process after receiving the application documents, the statement said. Subsequently, the fund will notify applicants of the review results and submit the list of eligible beneficiaries to the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) for allocation of the funds.
The statement noted that the beneficiaries will receive their cash handouts via bank transfer or cheque about a month after being notified of their eligibility.
In addition, the statement emphasised that should supplementary documentation be required, FSS officials will contact the applicants for follow-up.
The statement also pointed out that if residents wish to seek eligibility for the Non-Mandatory Central Provident Fund Budget Surplus Special Allocation on the same grounds they use in their application for the wealth-sharing allocation, they will be exempted from making a separate application.
Eight Exemptions
According to the respective bylaw, which was amended last month, the following eight reasons may be grounds for meeting the 183-day minimum stay requirement:
Attending higher education courses accredited by relevant local authorities.
Being hospitalised.
Residing in the Chinese mainland and being aged 65 or above, or residing in the Chinese mainland for health reasons and being below 65.
Working outside Macau for an employer registered with the Social Security Fund.
Working outside Macao to cover the primary living costs for family members residing in Macau.
Performing public service duties outside Macau.
Residing, working, or attending locally accredited higher or other education courses in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Working in any of the nine Chinese mainland cities that are part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Not a Lasting Entitlement
The government launched its wealth-sharing scheme in 2008, benefiting both permanent and non-permanent residents, regardless of age and nationality. In recent years, the cash handout has amounted to 10,000 patacas for permanent residents and 6,000 patacas for non-permanent residents.
The government has emphasised that the cash handouts are not a lasting entitlement but are granted on an ad hoc basis, year by year, depending on the government's financial situation at the time. Consequently, the scheme is not based on a law passed by the legislature but rather on an administrative regulation (bylaw) enacted by the government on each occasion.
The newly established 183-day minimum stay requirement is based on a similar prerequisite for Non-Mandatory Central Provident Fund beneficiaries. However, the minimum age requirement for the fund’s beneficiaries is set at 22.
