1.63 million Taiwan seniors enjoy government allowances: DGBAS

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on January 20, 2006. It reports that between January and November 2006, the government in Taiwan paid out NT$71.2 billion in allowances for senior citizens.

According to statistics provided by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), the number of beneficiaries of the payments totalled 1.63 million, accounting for 71.7 percent of the population aged 65 years or above.

At present, three kinds of monthly allowances are provided for senior citizens aged 65 or over. (1) NT$3,000 per month for those who have registered their households in Taiwan and have lived in the country for more than 183 days per year over the past three years and who are not receiving government-subsidized shelter placement or retirement pensions for military personnel. (2) NT$5,000 per month for those who made a living from farming or fishing. (3) Between NT$3,000 and NT$6,000 per month for low-income families.