The annual proof of life online registration procedure will be accessible for the first time on the online platform app “Common Access to Public Services of the Macau SAR” for both local and overseas residents, starting this Saturday, New Year’s Day, at 9 a.m.
The online registration process was announced by the Social Security Fund (SSF), Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), Provident Fund (FP), Identification Services Bureau (DSI), and Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) in a joint statement during a sharing session at the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) in Nape yesterday.
The statement pointed out that senior residents will no longer have to go to service kiosks as they now can complete their proof of life registration online. Furthermore, the “Common Access to Public Services” has optimised its proof of life service by providing an SMS forwarding and a query function.
SAFP Deputy Director Ng Wai Han, SSF Social Security System Department Chief Chan Pou I, IAS Family and Community Services Department Acting Chief Lam Son Wa, FP Retirement and Survival Support Division Chief Lei Wai Hong, DSI Division of Research and Development Chief Chou Wai Kin, along with seven representatives from local civic associations, attended the sharing session.
The statement said that the government will work with civic associations and social service organisations this Saturday starting from 9 a.m. by establishing temporary service location points in local districts to assist residents in using the “Common Access to Public Services” app.
The schedule and locations for the temporary service points were not mentioned in the sharing session or the statement.
The government encourages residents to use the “Common Access to Public Services” app to formalise their annual proof of life online starting next year in order to minimise crowd gatherings, according to the statement.
The statement underlined that residents who have queries about the “Common Access to Public Services” app can request civic associations’ help and support. For more information about the associations, visit https://www.ias.gov.mo/wp-content/uploads/file/social_service_facility_list.pdf
Residents living elsewhere can open “Common Access to Public Services” account
The statement noted that the “Common Access to Public Services” app also supports non-local phone numbers so that Macau ID holders living elsewhere can open an account instantly. The statement said that this means that those residents do not have to travel to Macau to submit their documents, or to send them by post, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement underlined that beneficiaries living outside Macau who have registered an account will need to log in and enable facial recognition to complete the proof of life application procedure.
Proof of life is required every January under the government’s Social Security System Law for senior residents to receive funds or pensions, according to a statement on the Provident Fund’s website.
The “Common Access to Public Services” is also known as “single account portal”in Chinese (一戶通). It provides over 70 public services, according to an earlier statement by the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau.
Identification Services Bureau (DSI) Division of Research and Development Chief Chou Wai Kin demonstrates to reporters how to use the “Common Access to Public Services of the Macau SAR” app during a sharing session yesterday afternoon at the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), CNAC Building, in Nape. Photo: Ula Cheang
