Hong Kong offers HK$45,000 to welfare recipients who secure steady jobs

Hong Kong residents on government welfare can receive cash incentives of up to HK$45,000 (US$5,740) over three years if they secure stable employment and transition to a scheme that promotes self-reliance, authorities announced on Monday.

The cash incentive scheme, funded by the Community Care Fund, will launch on October 1. It targets families moving from the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) scheme to the Working Family Allowance (WFA), which supports employed households.

“The pilot scheme encourages CSSA recipients with working capability to achieve self-reliance through continuous employment,” the government said in a statement.

Under the scheme, eligible households may receive up to three payments over a three-year period: HK$10,000 in the first year, HK$15,000 in the second, and HK$20,000 in the third.

The incentive amount is fixed regardless of household size or the amount of family allowance approved, the government added.

Eligible households must maintain continuous employment and obtain approval for at least two consecutive WFA applications over a 12-month period, with payments granted for at least 10 of those months.