The General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (commonly known as Kai Fong) yesterday urged the government to increase its old-age pension to at least 4,050 patacas a month, which would correspond to the official minimum subsistence index.
According to the Social Welfare Bureau’s (IAS) website, permanent residents aged at least 65, or those aged at least 60 who have been confirmed by the Social Security Fund (FSS) to be showing signs of premature ageing, and who have paid their dues to the fund for at least 60 months, are eligible to apply for the pension.
Currently, the pensioners receive 3,450 patacas month.
Addressing a press conference at the group’s community service centre in Toi San district about the findings of a survey on senior citizen’s quality of life, Chan Ka Leong, who heads Kai Fong’s social affairs committee, said the findings showed that the main source of income for over 80 percent of the respondents is their old-age pension, old-age allowance of 8,000 patacas a year and annual cash handout, which this year amounted to 9,000 patacas.
Chan Ka Leong (centre), who heads the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations’ social affairs committee, flanked by the group’s Social Service Office Deputy Director Michi Lam Man Chi (left) and the committee’s Deputy Chief Leong Pou Ieng, pose at the group’s community service centre in Toi San district before yesterday’s press conference about the findings of a survey on senior citizens’ quality of life, conducted by the association known as Kai Fong in Cantonese. Photo: Debby Seng
