Community Care Fund Assistance Programme Subsidy for Low Income Persons who are Inadequately Housed. Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Community Care Fund Assistance Programme Subsidy for Low Income Persons who are Inadequately Housed A. Eligibility Criteria 1. What are the eligibility criteria? Frequently Asked Questions Should meet all the following criteria when submitting an application: (a) (i) Persons renting on a monthly basis (or for longer tenures) rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private permanent housing 1 (excluding those renting an entire self-contained unit or those renting sub-divisions of flat units with individual entrance door 2 ); (ii) Persons renting bedspaces offered under the Home Affairs Department s Singleton Hostel Programme; (iii) Persons residing in temporary housing 3 ; or (iv) Homeless persons 4 ; Including all private residential flats, villas/bungalows/modern village houses, simple stone structures/traditional village houses, staff quarters, and flats under the Home Ownership Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme that are not bounded by alienation restrictions, but excluding industrial and commercial buildings. i.e. Sub-divisions of flat units with an individual entrance door directly leading to common areas (such as common corridors, the lift lobby or the building s staircases). Including Temporary Housing Area units and private temporary housing such as roof-top structures, contractor s matsheds, nissen huts, squatter huts, licensed structures, huts and places not intended for residential purpose (such as landings, staircases, corridors, etc.), but excluding vessels. Homeless persons include: (a) Street sleepers; (b) Persons residing in the following temporary shelter/urban hostel for single persons operated by non-governmental organisations; (i) Caritas Hung Hom Hostel; (ii) Street Sleepers Shelter Society Trustees Incorporated s Shamshuipo Shelter, Yaumatei Shelter and Wanchai Shelter; (iii) The Salvation Army s Yee On Hostel; (iv) Christian Concern for the Homeless Association s Home of Abundant Grace, Home of Promise and Grace Hostel; (v) St. James Settlement s Li Chit Street Single Persons Hostel; (vi) Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council s Jockey Club Lok Fu Hostel for Single Persons; (vii) Pok Oi Hospital Jockey Club Hostel for Single Persons; (viii) Missionaries of Charity s Home of Love; and (c) Persons residing in the Housing Department s Po Tin Transit Centre, Tuen Mun and Lung Tin Transit Centre, Tai O. 1

2 (b) The average monthly household income in the past 3 months 5 shall not exceed the specified income limit applicable to the relevant household size below: Household size (persons) Specified household income limit ($) 1 8, , , , ,640 6 or above 26,590 (c) For persons renting rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private permanent housing, the average monthly rent paid in the past 3 months 6 shall not exceed the specified rental limit applicable to the relevant household size below: Household size (persons) Specified household rental limit ($) 1 4, , , , ,820 6 or above 13,295 (d) Not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) 7 ; (e) Neither the applicant nor household members 8 own any property in Hong Kong (including jointly owned properties) ; and 5 The average monthly household income in the past 3 months refers to the average monthly household income of the 3 months prior to the submission of application (i.e. the average of the total monthly income of the applicant and household members residing with him/her), including earnings from employment and other income (i.e. including salary, double pay/leave pay, job allowance, bonus/commission/tips, fees for rendering services, profits from business/investment, alimony, contribution from relatives/friends, interests from fixed deposits, stock and shares, etc., rental income, monthly pension/widow s and children s compensation). Employee s mandatory contribution to a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme, payment under Government s Scheme $6,000, financial assistance provided by Government, charitable donations and financial assistance from other assistance programmes of the CCF, etc. of the applicant and household members residing with him/her are however not included. When calculating the monthly household income, applicants can refer to the monthly average of the two irregular income items (i.e. double pay and bonus) accumulated over the respective period of time. 6 Refers to the average monthly rent paid for the 3 months prior to the submission of application and according to the amount shown on the rental receipt. 7 In case some members of the applicant s household are receiving CSSA, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the number of household members, income, rent and subsidy amount. 8 Household members refer to all persons residing with the applicant. 2

3 (f) Hong Kong Permanent Residents, or holders of Hong Kong Identity Card who do not belong to those who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Immigration Department (ImmD) that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits In addition, the beneficiaries of another CCF programme, Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing, will not be eligible for subsidy under this programme In case some members of the applicant s household are CSSA recipients or persons who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ImmD that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits, they do not meet the eligbility criteria of the programme. As a result, will all persons in the household become ineligible for the subsidy as well? No. Those eligible persons under the household may still benefit from the programme. The application will still be processed. However, the household members who do not meet these eligibility criteria of the programme should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the number of household members, income, rent and subsidy amount. 3. If any person in a household owns property in Hong Kong, are all persons in the household ineligible for the subsidy? Yes. If any person in a household owns property in Hong Kong, all persons in that household are ineligible for the subsidy. 9 Persons who have entered Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ImmD that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits include: (a) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and their dependants; (b) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and their dependants; (c) Persons admitted into Hong Kong for employment as imported workers under the Supplementary Labour Scheme; (d) Persons admitted into Hong Kong under the Working Holiday Scheme; (e) Foreign domestic helpers; (f) Visitors; or (g) Persons admitted under the following immigration policies/arrangements and their dependants: (i) Training; (ii) Study; (iii) Employment under the General Employment Policy; (iv) Investment under the General Employment Policy (i.e. to establish or to join in a business); (v) Employment under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals; or (vi) Employment under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates. 10 In case some members of the applicant s household fail to meet this criterion, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the number of household members, income, rent and subsidy amount. 11 In case some members of the applicant s household are beneficiaries of the programme Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing, his/her application will still be processed. However, these persons should be excluded for the purpose of calculating the subsidy amount. 3

4 4. If an applicant has applied for the CCF s current programme Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing, is he/she eligible for subsidy under both programmes? No. No person can be eligible for subsidy under both programmes. However, for persons aged 60 to aged 64 or those who are mentally incapacitated/physically immobile (aged below 65) and have filled in Part 6 of the application form of the Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing to facilitate eligible elders residing with them to apply for that programme, but do not benefit from that programme, they may still apply and become eligible for Subsidy for Low-income Persons who are Inadequately Housed if they meet the programme s eligibility criteria. 5. For persons who rent an entire self-contained unit in private housing or rent sub-divisions of flat units with individual entrance door, are they eligible for the subsidy? No. Any person who rents an entire self-contained unit or rents sub-divisions of flat units with individual entrance door (i.e. an entrance door directly leading to common areas, such as common corridors, the lift lobby or the building s staircases) is not eligible for the subsidy. However, if there is more than one household in one accommodation, and these households rent part of the accommodation concerned and have their own rental receipts, they can submit applications with their own rental receipts respectively. 6. For applicants living in a room/cubicle, cockloft or bedspace in private permanent housing who do not need to pay any rent, are they eligible for the subsidy? No. One of the eligibility criteria under the programme is that the applicant and household members must be tenants of a room/cubicle, cockloft or bedspace in private permanent housing. 7. For person residing in an entire unit of temporary housing, is he/she eligible for the subsidy? Yes. Any person residing in temporary housing who meets all the eligibility criteria under the programme, regardless he/she is residing in an entire unit or paying any rent, can submit the application and receive the subsidy after verification of their eligibility criteria. 8. For applicant or household member who is included in the tenancy of a public rental housing flat, is he/she eligible for the subsidy? Any applicant or household member who is residing in the type of accommodation covered by the programme (see item 2(a) of the Programme Brief) as at the application date and meet all the eligibility criteria under the programme, can submit the application and receive the subsidy after verification of their eligibility criteria. 4

5 9. Are non-hong Kong permanent residents eligible for the subsidy? Any valid Hong Kong Identity Card (or Certificate of Exemption or Birth Certificate) holders (non-hong Kong permanent residents) who do not belong to those entering Hong Kong not for the purpose of settlement, and/or those who have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the ImmD that they have the financial means to sustain their living in Hong Kong before issuance of visas/entry permits, are eligible for the subsidy, if they meet other eligibility criteria under the programme. B. Application Procedures 10. When will application commence? The application period runs from 8 October 2012 to 8 April How to obtain application forms? Application forms are available at the community service units which assist in implementing the programme and are also available for download from the CCF website. 12. How to apply for the programme? Duly completed application form should be submitted together with copies of the required documents to any community service unit assisting in implementing the programme and near the applicants places of residence during the period from 8 October 2012 to 8 April Apart from being the Annex to the Programme Brief, the list of community service units is available at the Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department, District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department and the CCF website. 13. Can applicants submit the application forms to the community service units/the Secretariat by fax or by ? No. Application forms submitted by fax or by will not be accepted. 14. What kind of documents are applicants required to submit? Applicants must submit copies of the following required documents together with the application forms: (a) (b) Hong Kong Identity Card/Certificate of Exemption/Birth Certificate of the applicant and all household members (may choose to produce the original copies in person at the community service units); (If applicable) rental receipts for renting rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in buildings under the private permanent housing category (showing any of the applicant or the household members as the tenant of 5

6 the accommodation concerned and the monthly rent); (c) (If applicable) documentary proof of living in the following hostels/shelters (e.g. the rental receipts or occupation certificates issued by the hostels/shelters): (i) The bedspaces under the Singleton Hostel Programme operated by the Home Affairs Department; (d) (e) (ii) Temporary shelter/urban hostel for single persons operated by non-governmental organisations; or (iii) Po Tin Transit Centre in Tuen Mun and Lung Tin Transit Centre in Tai O operated by the Housing Department; (For applicants who choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts) documentary proof of bank account (e.g. the relevant page of passbook showing the name of the account holder or bank statement of the bank account concerned); and (For household members who are mentally incapacitated) supporting documents which prove that the household member concerned is mentally incapacitated (e.g. certificates issued by registered medical practitioners of Hong Kong). 15. Are applicants required to submit income proof? No. Applicants have to declare that the average monthly household income in the past 3 months does not exceed the specified income limit. Community service units will conduct audit checks, home visits/visits and income tests on selected applications. Applicants will be required to produce income proof during home visits/visits and income tests. 16. Applicants have to declare that their average monthly household income in the past 3 months does not exceed the specified income limit. How to calculate the average monthly household income in the past 3 months? The average monthly household income in the past 3 months refers to the average monthly household income of the 3 months prior to the submission of application (i.e. the average of the total monthly income of the applicant and household members), including earnings from employment and other income (i.e. including salary, double pay/leave pay, job allowance, bonus/commission/tips, fees for rendering services, profits from business/investment, alimony, contribution from relatives/friends, interests from fixed deposits, stock and shares, etc., rental income, monthly pension/ widow s and children s compensation). Employee s mandatory contribution to a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme, payment under Government s Scheme $6000, financial assistance provided by Government, charitable donations and financial assistance from other assistance programmes of the CCF, etc. of the applicant and household members are however not included. When calculating the monthly household income, applicants can refer to the monthly average of the two irregular income items (i.e. double pay and bonus) accumulated over the respective period of time. 6

7 17. If the monthly household income is not stable, how to declare on the average monthly household income? Applicant can first calculate the total household income in the past 3 months prior to the submission of application (i.e. the total monthly income in the past 3 months of the applicant and household members), then calculate the average monthly household income (i.e. divide the total income in 3 months by 3). If any one of the past 3 months has no income, then divide the total income in the other 2 months by If there is a change in the number of members of the applicant s household in the 3 months prior to the application date (e.g. because of death or moving-out of household members), should those household members be included in calculating the number of household members, income and rent? The number of household members, income and rent should be calculated as at the application date. 19. Should income earned outside Hong Kong be included as an applicant s household income? Yes. All income (irrespective of whether it is earned locally or outside Hong Kong, e.g. salaries of temporary job earned overseas) should be included in calculating the household income. 20. Are the contributions made by an applicant or household members to a Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Scheme deductible from their income? Employee s mandatory contributions made by an applicant or household members to an MPF Scheme are deductible from their income. However, any voluntary contributions made by them are not deductible. 21. Are the contributions made by an applicant or household members to a recognised occupational retirement (ROR) scheme deductible from their income? Contributions made by an applicant or household members to an ROR scheme are deductible from their income. However, the maximum amount deductible from each person should be the least of the following 3 amounts: - the contributions to the ROR scheme in the 3 months prior to the submission of application; - the amount of the mandatory contributions that would have been required to pay if he/she had contributed as an employee to an MPF scheme (i.e. equivalent to 5% of the monthly salary); or - $3,750 (i.e. $1,250 per month). 7

8 22. Are applicants required to submit copies of the rental receipts of the past 3 months? Only applicants who rent rooms/cubicles, cocklofts or bedspaces in private permanent housing are required to provide copies of rental receipts. If the rent shown on the copy of the rental receipt submitted by an applicant is the same as the amount indicated in Part 3 of the application form, the applicant is only required to submit copy of the rental receipt (showing any of the applicant or the household members as the tenant of the flat concerned and the monthly rent) of any one of the 3 months prior to the application date. However, if the rent shown on the copy of the rental receipt submitted by an applicant is different from the amount indicated in Part 3 of the application form, the applicant is required to submit copies of the rental receipts of all 3 months prior to the application date for verification. 23. If the monthly rent paid is different in the past 3 months prior to the submission of application or the accommodation has been rented for less than 3 months, how to calculate the average monthly rent? If the monthly rent paid is different in the past 3 months prior to the submission of application, the applicant should first calculate the total rent paid in these 3 months, then calculate the average monthly rent (i.e. divide the total rent amount by 3). If the applicant has rented the accommodation for 2.5 months, the applicant should first calculate the total rent paid in these 2.5 months and then calculate the average monthly rent. For example, if the applicant has rented the accommodation for 2.5 months and the total rent paid in the past 2.5 months is $10,000, then the average monthly rent is $4,000 (i.e. $10, days (30 days + 30 days + 15 days) x 30 days). 24. Can applicants stamp a seal or provide fingerprints on the application form instead of signing it? If necessary, applicants may stamp a seal or provide fingerprints on the application form instead of signing it. 25. If a household has more than one eligible persons and they are unable to reach a consensus on nominating a specified applicant, what should be done? As applications should be made on a household basis, a household with more than one eligible person should nominate one of the eligible persons as the applicant. If they are unable to reach a consensus on nominating the specified applicant, we would not be able to process the application concerned even if they are eligible for subsidy under the programme. 8

9 26. Has the CCF commissioned any organisation to assist applicants to complete and submit application forms for them? What should applicants pay attention to if they need assistance in completing the application form? The CCF has not commissioned any organisation to complete and submit the application forms for the applicants. If assistance is needed to submit an application, applicants should seek help from the community service units which assist in implementing the programme, or family members, relatives or friends. Applicants should exercise care in the handling and protection of personal data. 27. What should applicants pay attention to when there are organisations which offer to help them fill in the application forms? Applicants should understand the purpose of data collection by the organisation concerned and whether the data collected will be used for other purposes or transferred to any agencies or persons other than the CCF Secretariat or the community service units. If the organisations indicate that the data will be used for purposes other than this programme, applicants should seriously consider if they are willing to accept such additional purposes before providing the data to the organisations. Applicants should keep a record of the name and contact particulars of the persons who collect their data, as well as the name of the organisations they represent. Applicants should not provide excessive personal data. If the applicant is asked to provide data that exceed the requirement of the programme, he/she should ask for an explanation from the organisations. C. Processing of Application 28. How long does it take to vet an application? In general, after the duly completed application form and copies of all the required documents are submitted to the community service units, it will take about 1 to 2 months for the Secretariat to finish all the vetting procedures (including data matching with the Social Welfare Department, Land Registry and another CCF Programme, i.e. Subsidy for Elderly Tenants in Private Housing) and arrange for the disbursement of subsidy to successful applicants. However, the time required for vetting may vary, subject to the conditions of individual cases. 29. How to define the date of submitting the application? The date of submitting the application is the date the duly completed application form (together with copies of all the required documents) is submitted to the community service unit. 9

10 30. If an application is unsuccessful, can the applicant seek a review? Applicants who disagree with the application results can seek a review in writing to the Secretariat with justifications within 14 days after receiving the notification of results (address: 4/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). 31. If the same applicant submits more than one application forms, how will the applications be handled? Duplicate submissions will not be processed; such submissions may delay the processing of application and disbursement of subsidy. D. Disbursement of Subsidy 32. For successful applications, what is the expected time of subsidy disbursement? The CCF Secretariat expects to disburse the subsidy in phases to successful applicants starting from late November. 33. How can eligible applicants receive the subsidy? If applicants choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts, the subsidy will be deposited into the bank accounts as specified in their application forms. For applicants who choose to receive the subsidy in the form of order cheques, they should bring along their Hong Kong Identity Cards and collect the cheques in person at the designated community service units within the specified period. 34. If the applicants choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts, what are the arrangements? Do they need to make arrangements at the bank in person? Will the banks impose any service charge? Applicants are only required to provide the account numbers of his/her local Hong Kong dollar sole-name savings/current account (do not provide the account number of a joint account, credit card account, loan account, fixed deposit account, investment account or foreign currency account) in the application forms. The subsidy will be deposited directly into the specified bank account through autopay, and the Secretariat will issue a notification of result to successful applicants. If the applicant is a homeless person or has no mailing address, the notification will be issued though the community service unit. Applicants are not required to make arrangements at the banks in person, and banks will not impose any service charge on the applicants. 10

11 35. Are applicants required to collect the order cheques in person at community service units? Applicants shall bring along their Hong Kong Identity Cards and collect the cheques in person at the community service units. The order cheque will be issued to an applicant after verification of his/her name and Hong Kong Identity Card number. Applicants have to acknowledge receipt of the cheque concerned. 36. How to encash the cheque? Does one need to pay any service charge? Applicants may go to any branch of the Bank of China (Hong Kong) in person, produce their Hong Kong Identity Cards for verification and encash the cheques. No service charge is required for this service. 37. Can applicants authorise other persons to encash the cheques for them? No. As the cheque issued is an order cheque, the payee (not the bearer) will be the only person who can encash the cheque. As such, applicants have to encash the cheque in person at a branch of the Bank of China (Hong Kong). 38. If applicants choose to collect the subsidy in the form of order cheques, what is the validity period of the cheques? Applicants should bring along their Hong Kong Identity Cards and collect the cheques in person at the designated community service units. If applicants fail to collect the cheques within the specified period and time without reasonable explanations, no cheque or subsidy will be given to them. Cheques issued are valid for 6 months. After collecting the cheques, applicants should encash them at banks within 6 months from the cheque date. E. Other Arrangements 39. How may physically immobile persons (e.g. those who are disabled or bedridden) receive the subsidy? For applicants who choose to receive the subsidy through direct payment into bank accounts, the subsidy will be deposited directly into the bank account specified by the applicants on the application forms through autopay. Applicants without a valid bank account may ask their relatives or friends to call the Secretariat at / for special arrangement. 11

12 40. If other members of the household residing with the eligible persons who are aged below 18 or mentally incapacitated are not eligible for the subsidy, how can those eligible persons apply for and receive the subsidy? If other members of the household residing with the eligible persons who are aged below 18 or mentally incapacitated are ineligible, parents/guardians (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) not living with those aged below 18 persons, or relatives/agents (must be Hong Kong residents at the age of 18 or above) not living those mentally incapacitated persons can submit the application and receive the subsidy for them. Please call the Secretariat at / for special arrangement. 41. If applicants or household members pass away after submitting the applications (but before receiving the subsidy), will they be granted the subsidy? If applicants submitted the applications before passing away and are confirmed to meet the eligibility criteria under the programme by the Secretariat, subsidy will still be granted and will be treated as part of the estate of the applicants. However, if there are other eligible persons in the household that should be granted the subsidy under the same application, these eligible persons should nominate one of them to be the representative to receive their subsidy. If an eligible household member has passed away, the applicant may still receive the subsidy for him/her, and the subsidy concerned will be treated as part of that household member s estate. 42. Given the large volume of personal data collected under the programme, how will the Secretariat and community service centres handle the data? For how long will such data be retained? The Secretariat and community service centres will handle with care the personal data of applicants in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. The data collected under the programme is primarily handled by the Secretariat and community service centres, or transferred to relevant Government departments for the purposes of data verification and vetting. In accordance with the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, the Secretariat and community service centres will safely and completely erase the personal data after the purposes of data collection are fulfilled. 12