What are the eligibility criteria for Old Age Allowance? What is the amount of assistance payable?

Old Age Allowance (OAA) under the Social Security Allowance Scheme provided by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) is designed to provide a monthly allowance to Hong Kong residents aged 70 or above to meet special needs arising from old age. The scheme is non-means-tested.

The monthly amount of OAA is $1,675 (effective from 1 February 2026).

Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) is designed to provide a special allowance per month to Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above who have income and assets not exceeding the prescribed limits. Please note a recipient will not be granted OALA and OAA at the same time. For details of OALA, please click here.

A person is eligible for the OAA if he/she:

is aged 70 or above;
meets the following residence requirements:
1. has been a Hong Kong resident for at least 7 years; and
2. has resided in Hong Kong continuously for at least 1 year immediately before the date of application (absence from Hong Kong up to a maximum of 90 days during the one-year period is treated as residence in Hong Kong).

Note:
- Persons whose presence in Hong Kong is unlawful or persons who are permitted to stay in Hong Kong for a purpose other than residence (for example, imported workers or visitors) are excluded from the Scheme.
- In considering the residence requirement in (b) above, consideration can be given to disregarding absences arising from paid work or receiving medical treatment outside Hong Kong for more than 90 days during the one-year period, subject to there being sufficient documentary proof (and reason).

The following classes of persons are not eligible to apply for the allowance:
(a) persons and their dependants currently staying in Hong Kong under various talent and investment-related entrant schemes which include but not limited to the Top Talent Pass Scheme, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme, the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), the GEP and ASMTP (Technical Professionals Stream), the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme; and
(b) persons currently staying in Hong Kong on student/training visas and their dependants, persons currently staying in Hong Kong on Working Holiday visas, and consular-related personnel.

continues to reside in Hong Kong during receipt of Old Age Allowance (Please click here for information on the permissible limit of absence from Hong Kong during receipt of allowance);
is not receiving other allowances under the Social Security Allowance Scheme or Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme; and
is not being detained in legal custody or admitted to a penal institution.