Fruit-money frustration for cross-border retirees
Most of the 100 people who lined up to apply for elderly allowance turned away because of a lack of paperwork
Many cross-border retirees trying to register for the "fruit money" allowance went away disappointed yesterday after failing to provide information such as proof of a Guangdong address and a Hong Kong bank account.
Applicants lined up outside the Social Welfare Department's service centre in Sheung Shui on the first day for applications for the new scheme, which allows Hong Kong retirees in Guangdong to receive a HK$1,135-a-month old-age allowance.
Previously, they could not get the money unless they spent at least 60 days a year in Hong Kong.
Chan Nam, 73, whose application for the allowance was rejected twice in the past three years, will have to wait longer to get it because he did not know he needed to bring proof of a Guangdong address.
He said the information about how to apply, published in newspapers and broadcast on television, was not detailed enough.
"I'm still quite confused how I can get my address proof," he said after leaving the centre.