Protesters decry Hong Kong government’s plan to raise CSSA elderly payment threshold to 65
- Welfare recipients and activist groups say the shortfall in payments for people aged 60 to 64 will have a serious impact on livelihoods
- Lawmakers also call on the government to reverse decision or at least consider alternative measures
Around three years ago, a partial loss of hearing and blurred vision from decades of labour in renovation works rendered 59-year-old Tang unable to continue with his job.
Tang, who preferred to only give his surname, had no choice but to apply for the comprehensive social security assistance (CSSA) scheme, which is intended to only help meet basic needs.
With only HK$2,455 (US$313) a month in government payments from the scheme and no family in Hong Kong, he was struggling to find a proper place to live with rents in the city skyrocketing. Fortunately, he was able to get a place in a hostel for single people provided by the Home Affairs Department, which supports those living in dilapidated conditions up to 60 years old.
With Tang just eight months shy of 60, he was already prepared to move into a subdivided flat after he starts getting the elderly rate for the CSSA scheme, which is HK$1,030 more a month.
Having to live in poor conditions in subdivided flats in the future, it may seem he was already prepared for the worst, but he was given a rude shock when officials announced on Monday that they were raising the lower age limit on the elderly CSSA from 60 to 65 years old starting next month.
