Question 1

A Social Security Allowance recipient who spends too much of the payment year outside Hong Kong loses allowance: you must be physically in Hong Kong for at least 60 days in each payment year, and total absence must not exceed 305 days (306 in a leap year).: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. each payment year (a 12-month period running from the date of eligibility): minimum 60 days' residence in Hong Kong; maximum 305 days' absence (306 in a leap year) "If a Social Security Allowance recipient has resided in Hong Kong for less than 60 days in a payment year, he/she is not entitled to any absence allowance in that year. He/She is eligible to receive allowance only for the periods during which he/she has resided in Hong Kong. If any overpayment involved, the recipient/guardian/appointee must refund the overpaid allowance to SWD."

Question 2

OALA absence limit: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

Each 付款年度 (payment year) of the allowance. At least 60 days' residence in Hong Kong per payment year; total absence not more than 305 days (306 in a leap year). A recipient who resides in Hong Kong for fewer than 60 days in the payment year is not entitled to any absence allowance and is paid the allowance only for the period of residence in Hong Kong; if the recipient has been overpaid as a result, the recipient/guardian/appointee must repay the overpaid amount to SWD.

Question 3

An MPF early-withdrawal claim on the ground of terminal illness must be submitted through the eMPF Platform within 12 months of the date the supporting medical certificate was issued.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within 12 months of the issue of the medical certificate. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 4

An advance application for Old Age Allowance or Old Age Living Allowance can only be lodged in the one-month window immediately before your 65th or 70th birthday; if lodged in that window, your birthday counts as the application date.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within one month prior to reaching the qualifying age (the 65th or 70th birthday) The source states only that applications lodged in that window are treated as made on the qualifying-age date; outside that window, payment is calculated from the date of receipt of application or date of eligibility, whichever is later.

Question 5

An appeal against a Social Welfare Department social security decision must be lodged with the Social Security Appeal Board within 4 weeks of the date you were notified of the decision.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within 4 weeks from the date of notification of the decision from the Social Welfare Department. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 6

When the Social Welfare Department issues a Postal Review Notification Letter, the Old Age Living Allowance recipient must complete, sign and return the Postal Review Form within one month of the letter's issue date - this is the recurring re-declaration that keeps payment alive.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within one month from the date of issue of the Postal Review Notification Letter (issued on periodic review) "Otherwise, SWD will not be able to establish the recipients' continued eligibility for OALA and will need to consider stopping the OALA payment to the recipients concerned."

Question 7

MPF early withdrawal on the "small balance" ground only becomes available once at least 12 months have passed since the last contribution date.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. at least 12 months must have elapsed since the last contribution date. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 8

Reach at least age 60 and cease all employment and self-employment before applying for early retirement withdrawal of MPF.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source states no clock start beyond the age threshold itself; what counts is the member reaching age 60. At least 60 years old, with all employments and self-employments ceased. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 9

Wait at least 12 months since the last contribution before applying for small balance early withdrawal of MPF: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date of the scheme member's last contribution to the scheme. At least 12 months must have elapsed since the last contribution date, as at the date of application. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 10

Know that early withdrawal of MPF accrued benefits on the ground of permanent departure from Hong Kong can be exercised only once: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source states no running clock for this rule; what counts is the member's earlier withdrawal on the permanent departure ground, not a waiting period. Applies to all subsequent applications on the same ground with a later departure date, following any earlier successful withdrawal on that ground. Scheme members who have previously withdrawn their MPF on such grounds will not be paid MPF again for all subsequent applications on the same grounds with a later departure date.

Question 11

Know the general timeframe within which an MPF trustee must pay out accrued benefits, including on a claim following the death of a scheme member: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The date the trustee receives all required supporting documents. Generally within 30 days after receiving all required documents. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 12

MPF withdrawal on permanent departure: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

No deadline: the ground is available from the date of permanent departure and may be used only once per member. Once only; a second application on the same ground with a later departure date is not paid. A member who has already withdrawn MPF on this ground cannot apply again on the same ground with a later departure date, and the trustee will not pay MPF to the member. A member who makes a false or misleading statement to withdraw MPF early may be prosecuted.

Question 13

Once a complete MPF withdrawal application has been received, the trustee must pay out within 30 days.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within 30 days after the trustee receives all required documents. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 14

Personal account consolidation: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

No deadline; consolidation is optional and available at any time. Any time. the source does not state what happens if this is missed.

Question 15

After you stop working in Hong Kong, if you give the eMPF Platform no instruction within three months of your employer notifying it of your termination, your MPF is moved automatically out of your contribution account into a personal account.: what starts the clock and how long does it run?

Accepted Answer

The source does not state what starts the clock. within three months after the eMPF Platform receives notice of termination of employment from the employer. "your MPF will be automatically transferred from the contribution account to a personal account under the same scheme"

Hong Kong pension deadlines for people who left

A Social Security Allowance recipient who spends too much of the payment year outside Hong Kong loses allowance: you must be physically in Hong Kong for at least 60 days in each payment year, and total absence must not exceed 305 days (306 in a leap year).

OALA absence limit

An MPF early-withdrawal claim on the ground of terminal illness must be submitted through the eMPF Platform within 12 months of the date the supporting medical certificate was issued.

An advance application for Old Age Allowance or Old Age Living Allowance can only be lodged in the one-month window immediately before your 65th or 70th birthday; if lodged in that window, your birthday counts as the application date.

An appeal against a Social Welfare Department social security decision must be lodged with the Social Security Appeal Board within 4 weeks of the date you were notified of the decision.

When the Social Welfare Department issues a Postal Review Notification Letter, the Old Age Living Allowance recipient must complete, sign and return the Postal Review Form within one month of the letter's issue date - this is the recurring re-declaration that keeps payment alive.

MPF early withdrawal on the "small balance" ground only becomes available once at least 12 months have passed since the last contribution date.

Reach at least age 60 and cease all employment and self-employment before applying for early retirement withdrawal of MPF.

Wait at least 12 months since the last contribution before applying for small balance early withdrawal of MPF

Know that early withdrawal of MPF accrued benefits on the ground of permanent departure from Hong Kong can be exercised only once

Know the general timeframe within which an MPF trustee must pay out accrued benefits, including on a claim following the death of a scheme member

MPF withdrawal on permanent departure

Once a complete MPF withdrawal application has been received, the trustee must pay out within 30 days.

Personal account consolidation

After you stop working in Hong Kong, if you give the eMPF Platform no instruction within three months of your employer notifying it of your termination, your MPF is moved automatically out of your contribution account into a personal account.