What are the application procedures and the payment arrangements for Disability Allowance?

Form and Guidance Notes

• Social Security Allowance Scheme Application Form (Sep 2023 version) (PDF)

• Application for Social Security Allowance Guidance Notes (Feb 2024 version) (PDF)
  Application form and Guidance Notes can be downloaded from SWD’s website or obtained from any Social Security Field Units

• Pamphlet on Social Security Allowance Scheme (Sep 2023 version) (PDF)

Documents Required

Please return the completed application form together with photocopies of the following supporting documents:

For applicants aged below 18

1. Any documents confirming the applicant’s identity, age and residence in Hong Kong (e.g. Hong Kong Identity Card, Birth Certificate, travel documents (with the printed copy of e-Visa, if applicable), etc.);
2. The pages showing the absence record during the one-year period immediately before the application and the personal particulars in all the applicant’s travel documents (e.g. Passport, HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, etc.);
3. Applicant’s hospitalisation records or follow-up appointment slips in public hospitals/clinics to facilitate the arrangement of a medical assessment;
4. The identity document of the applicant’s parent/guardian and proof of relationship with the applicant (e.g. Birth Certificate);
5. Document of bank account (e.g. first page of bank account passbook, bank statement, etc.) (must clearly show the account name and account number) of the applicant’s parent/guardian (only sole and not joint accounts are acceptable for payment purposes);
6. The identity document of the applicant’s appointee/agent and proof of relationship with the applicant (e.g. Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate, etc.); and
7. Document of bank account (e.g. first page of bank account passbook, bank statement, etc.) (must clearly show the account name and account number) of the applicant’s appointee/agent (only sole and not joint accounts are acceptable for payment purposes).

For applicants aged 18 or above

1. Any documents confirming the applicant’s identity, age and residence in Hong Kong (e.g. Hong Kong Identity Card, Birth Certificate, travel documents (with the printed copy of e-Visa, if applicable), etc.);
2. Document of the applicant’s bank account (e.g.first page of bank account passbook, bank statement, etc.) (must clearly show the name of the applicant and account number; only sole account is acceptable for payment of allowance, joint account is not applicable);
3. The pages showing the absence record during the one-year period immediately before the application and the personal particulars in all the applicant’s travel documents (e.g. Passport, HKSAR Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, etc.);
4. Applicant’s hospitalisation records or follow-up appointment slips in public hospitals/clinics to facilitate the arrangement of a medical assessment;
5. The identity document of the applicant’s appointee/agent and proof of relationship with the applicant (e.g. Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate, etc.); and
6. Document of bank account (e.g. first page of bank account passbook, bank statement, etc.) (must clearly show the account name and account number) of the applicant’s appointee/agent (only sole and not joint accounts are acceptable for payment purposes).

Application Procedures

• "iAM Smart+" account owner with signing function enabled can submit the online form directly; or
• Apply by phone/ fax/ e-mail/ in person or by relatives or friends in person at the Social Security Field Unit; or
• Download the “Social Security Allowance Scheme Application Form” from the SWD’s website and return the completed application form together with photocopies of relevant supporting documents to the Social Security Field Unit by post or in person; or
• Through a referral to SWD by another government department or a non-governmental organisation.

Person Unable to Make Application by Himself/herself

If an applicant is aged below 18 without a parent or legal guardian or is an adult aged 18 or above who has been medically certified to be unfit to make a statement on his/her own on rendering him/her unable to make an application by himself/herself, which is verified by SWD, an appointee will be appointed by the Director of Social Welfare to act on his/her behalf.  Please contact the Social Security Field Units for details.

Application Procedures, Payment Arrangements and Permissible Limits of Absence from Hong Kong During Receipt of Payment

Application Procedures

• Upon receipt of the application, SWD will make arrangements for an interview with the applicant. All the application procedures are to be processed in Hong Kong.

• Once the interview is completed and all information is available, the processing time is usually 6 weeks. The SWD will issue a notification letter to the applicant.

Payment Arrangements

• Payment will be calculated from the date of receipt of the application by SWD (or the date of application or referral if the application is referred by another organization) or the date of eligibility, whichever is the later.
• Payment will be paid together with the transport supplement. (A monthly transport supplement is payable to Disability Allowance recipients in the age group of 12 to 64.)
• Allowance is usually credited to the applicant’s/ guardian’s/ appointee’s designated bank account once a month. Under exceptional circumstances, special delivery of cash directly to the applicant can be arranged.

Permissible Limits of Absence from Hong Kong During Receipt of Payment

• Where a recipient has resided in Hong Kong for not less than 60 days in a payment year, his/her temporary absences from Hong Kong will not affect the payment of allowance on condition that the total number of days of absence in the year does not exceed 305 days (or 306 days in a leap year). A recipient will be entitled to a full-year allowance if he/she satisfies the minimum residence period of 60 days in a payment year.  
• In the calculation of the days of absence, subject to there being sufficient documentary proof, consideration can be given to disregarding a recipient’s absences from Hong Kong arising from paid work or full-time study outside Hong Kong.
• Please click here for details on the permissible limits of absence from Hong Kong during the receipt of the allowance.

For other enquiries:

Please visit the SWD’s Social Security Allowance Scheme’s website ; or
Visit your nearest Social Security Field Unit.