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OALA retrospective payment arrangement to expire soon
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     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (December 11) reminded elderly persons that the retrospective payment arrangement under the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) will expire by the end of this month (December 31). Eligible elderly persons are advised to expeditiously submit their applications such that they will receive the retrospective payment counting from December 1, 2012 at the earliest.

     The retrospective payment arrangement is a one-off special arrangement under the OALA. For applications received by the SWD on or before December 31, 2013, including "Phase 2 - Postal Submission" and "Phase 3 - New Application", eligible elderly persons will receive a lump sum payment in arrears (after deducting Old Age Allowance or Disability Allowance payments already made for the corresponding period) counting from the effective date (that is, December 1, 2012) or the eligibility date for OALA, whichever is later, and the subsequent monthly payments.

     For applications received by the SWD after December 31, 2013, eligible elderly persons will only be entitled to receive OALA payments from the date of application or the date of eligibility, whichever is later.

     The spokesman said that the OALA, which was launched in April 2013, provides a monthly allowance of $2,200 for eligible elderly persons. At as the end of November, more than 400 000 eligible elderly persons had already received the allowance. For eligibility criteria and frequently asked questions on the OALA, please visit the SWD website: www.swd.gov.hk/oala/index_e.html#s6 or call the OALA hotline 3595 0130.

Ends/Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:01

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