When will applicants of financial assistance for primary and secondary students received payment? How can they know the payment has been released?

Payment Dates

Applicants who have submitted application for assessment of eligibility for financial assistance together with all necessary supporting documents for the 2023/24 school year in May 2023:

• Applicants who have received School Textbook Assistance (TA) in the 2022/23 school year:  The Student Finance Office (SFO) will release the advanced payment of TA and Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA) in end July to August 2023 to eligible applicants.  After the Textbook Grant Rates for various forms for the 2023/24 school year has been announced, the SFO will adjust the amount of TA and Student Travel Subsidy (STS) in early November 2023. Applicants submitting application online will receive the provisional School Textbook Assistance and the Subsidy for Internet Access Charges earlier than those applicants using paper-based forms.
• Other first-time applicants: If they have returned the completed Eligibility Certificate (EC) to school and completed the“Application for Financial Assistance Scheme(s)”, the SFO will release TA and SIA to eligible applicants from late October / early November 2023. STS payment will also be arranged from late October/ early November 2023 to eligible applicants.

Applicants who have submitted application for assessment of eligibility for financial assistance after May 2023:

•  All applications of financial assistance for primary and secondary students submitted on or after 1 June 2023 will be handled by the SFO after the applications received before end May are processed. Notification of result and release of financial assistance to these applicants will therefore be deferred.

Payment Arrangements
The SFO will release financial assistance by autopay to the bank account provided by applicants.  Applicants can check their bank passbook or bank statement for the transactions.  The legends “TA” (for School Textbook Assistance), “SIA” (for Subsidy for Internet Access Charges) or “STS” (for Student Travel Subsidy) will normally be shown in the bank passbook or bank statement to indicate the transactions.