Handout distribution starts next month

The Macau SAR government has announced that this year’s “wealth partaking scheme,” or “handout”, will come into effect on Thursday, with its implementation commencing in early July.

Under the scheme, local permanent residents are entitled to receive a sum of MOP9,000, while non-permanent residents will receive MOP5,400.

Recipients must have been holders of valid or renewable Macau SAR Resident Identity Cards on December 31, 2016 to be entitled to receive the cash premium, according to a statement from the Financial Services Bureau (DSF).

Holders of a valid or renewable Macau SAR Resident Identity Card who are currently residing abroad will be granted the cash premium, provided they can prove that they are unable to renew their Macau SAR Resident Identity Card due to either being bedridden, or completely or partly paralyzed.

For those who have submitted the relevant documentary proof and were granted the cash premium in the previous year, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) is authorized to exempt them from document resubmission if it concludes that no new evidence is required.

A direct bank transfer will be arranged for those who are receiving financial assistance or senior citizen subsidies from the IAS, according to the statement. The same will apply to retired civil servants receiving a retirement pension and other persons receiving aforesaid pension for the family of the deceased.

Most of the rest of the populace will be awarded the cash premium through a crossed check via mail. The crossed check can only be deposited into the payee’s account. In this way, the DSF notes that even if one receives a check addressed to another, it cannot be cashed.

A different procedure is applicable to beneficiaries under the age of 18. They will each receive a check made payable either to themselves or their parents, which may be deposited either into the beneficiary’s account or the account of one of their parents.

Residents with enquiries concerning the handout scheme can contact the Service Center of the Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau either in person or by telephone.