Seniors Aged 65 and Above Can Now Claim Their Money! Eligible Individuals to Receive NT$10,000 Each, Starting October 2 in One City – Full 2026 Taiwan Senior Respect Festival Bonus Schedule and Details Revealed

The annual Senior Respect Festival bonus in Kaohsiung City is about to launch! The Social Affairs Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government announced that the 2026 (115th year) Senior Respect Festival bonus is scheduled to be officially disbursed starting October 2, with an estimated 590,000 local seniors benefiting. To enhance administrative convenience and respond to public needs, the city government has made a major reform this year by adding direct bank transfer services through as many as 35 financial institutions. Registration for this service is now open until July 31, offering seniors and their families a more time-saving and diverse range of collection options. The latest disbursement dates, amounts, and bonus details for the 2026 Senior Respect Festival bonus across Taiwan are all available in this article.

2026 Kaohsiung Senior Bonus – Disbursement Tiers: Centenarians Receive Up to NT$10,000! Age and Registration Requirements

According to the press release and distribution guidelines issued by Kaohsiung City’s Social Affairs Bureau, this year’s Senior Respect Festival bonus is divided into three different disbursement tiers based on age:

· NT$1,500: For indigenous elders aged 55 to 64 and general seniors aged 65 to 89.

· NT$5,000: For seniors aged 90 to 99.

· NT$10,000: For centenarians aged 100 and above.

2026 Kaohsiung Senior Bonus – Three Key Eligibility Criteria

Beneficiaries must meet all of the following age, registration, and residency requirements to qualify:

· Date of Birth: General citizens must have been born on or before December 31, 1961 (inclusive); indigenous citizens must have been born on or before December 31, 1971 (inclusive).

· Registration Deadline: Must have been registered as a resident of Kaohsiung City by June 30 of this year (115th year, inclusive).

· Residency Requirement: Must not have moved their household registration out of Kaohsiung City by September 18 of this year (115th year, inclusive).

New Public Convenience Initiative! Breaking Free from Agricultural and Post Office Limitations, Adding 35 Banks Including Taiwan Bank for Transfers

In previous years, Kaohsiung City distributed the Senior Respect Festival bonus primarily through agricultural and fisheries associations or post office accounts, or via in-person delivery by district office staff. However, some seniors and their families have reported to the city government that they do not typically use post office or agricultural association accounts and have requested more flexible remittance options.

To reduce the inconvenience of seniors having to travel back and forth during the social welfare application process, the Social Affairs Bureau has specially introduced 35 transfer financial institutions this year, including Taiwan Bank. Eligible individuals who wish to switch to bank transfers can bring relevant documentation to the social affairs division of any district office in Kaohsiung City or the central Social Affairs Bureau office to register for the transfer service from now until July 31. Applications submitted after the deadline will follow the previous standard procedures.

2026 Kaohsiung Senior Respect Festival Bonus. (Image / Kaohsiung City Government Social Affairs Bureau)

2026 Taiwan Senior Respect Festival Bonus Guide – Comprehensive Overview of Eligibility, Amounts, Disbursement Dates, and Collection Methods by County and City

[Major Counties and Cities] 2026 Senior Respect Festival Bonus Distribution Standards Summary Table

Senior Respect Festival: October 18

County/City – Eligibility and Restrictions – Disbursement Amount Tiers – Collection Methods and Key Dates

Taipei City

Must have been registered for at least three months (registered by July 18), and be aged 65 or above by December 31 of the current year (55 or above for indigenous people).

· 65–84 years (55–84 for indigenous): NT$1,500

· 85–98 years (75–88 for indigenous): NT$3,000

· 99 years and above (89 and above for indigenous): NT$10,000 + gift

1. Online transfer registration: Register now through August 14; first batch credited on September 1.

2. EasyCard tap-to-load: September 7–18.

3. In-person cash collection: October 15–17 at designated locations.

※ For those aged 99 and above: delivered personally by the director or directly transferred.

New Taipei City

Must be 65 years old (55 for indigenous) in the month of the Senior Respect Festival, registered in New Taipei City for at least one year (by the end of the festival month) and continuously residing. No disbursement if moved out or deceased after registration.

· 65–79 years (55 for indigenous): NT$1,500

· 80–89 years: NT$2,000

· 90–99 years: NT$5,000

· 100 years and above: NT$20,000

· Priority bank transfer: Must apply at district office by August 27.

· For non-transfer recipients: cash delivered at designated locations or in person by district offices.

Keelung City

Must be registered in Keelung City by one month before the Senior Respect Festival (September 11) and aged 65 or above (55 or above for indigenous).

· 65–99 years (55–99 for indigenous): NT$1,000

· 100 years and above: NT$6,000 + gift

· For those with post office accounts: direct deposit on October 7.

· Without post office accounts: bring ID and seal to district office counter to collect cash.

Taoyuan City

Must be 65 years old (55 for indigenous) on the day of the Senior Respect Festival, registered for six months with proof of residence.

· 65–98 years: NT$2,500

· 99 years and above: NT$20,000

· Under 99 years: directly deposited into post office or designated account five days before the festival.

· 99 years and above: cash personally delivered by district office or Social Affairs Bureau representative.

Hsinchu County

Must turn 65 by December 31 of the current year, registered in Hsinchu County after August 1, 2005, and continuously for at least 10 years. Must meet asset exclusions: (annual income ≤ NT$500,000, real estate ≤ NT$5,000,000).

· All eligible recipients: NT$10,000

· Paper application required: Submit to district office between April 1 and September 30 (exempt if applied last year).

· Disbursement: Approved by end of May → disbursed by end of July; approved June–September → disbursed by end of November.

Miaoli County

Registered in Miaoli County by January 1, 2025, and aged 65 or above (55 or above for indigenous) by January 1, 2026.

· All eligible recipients: NT$1,000

· Direct deposit: Credited directly to registered account (farmers’ association or post office) before the Senior Respect Festival.

※ Those without registered accounts must submit consent form and bankbook copy by November 28, 2024 (114th year).

Taichung City

Registered in Taichung City by August 27, 2026 (115th year). Aged 65 or above (born on or before December 31, 1971), or indigenous aged 55 or above (born on or before December 31, 1971).

· 65–89 years (same for indigenous): NT$2,000

· 90–94 years: NT$3,000

· 95–99 years: NT$5,000

· 100 years and above: NT$10,000

· Bank transfer: Apply online or on paper by August 28; credited on October 8.

· In-person cash collection: September 30–October 19 by district offices.

Changhua County

Registered by January 1, 2026 (115th year) and not moved out during the Senior Respect Festival month. Divided into general households and welfare-eligible households (low-income, mid-low income, disability allowance, mid-low elderly allowance).

[General Households]: All receive NT$1,000

[Welfare Households]:

· 65–79 years (55–64 for indigenous): NT$3,000

· 80–89 years: NT$6,000 | 90–99 years: NT$9,000

· Centenarians: NT$10,000

· Cash collection: Two phases (September 21–October 18, October 19–November 6). ※ Huatan, Lukang, Xingang, and Xizhou townships only offer cash.

· Bank transfer: Credited by October 18.

Nantou County

55+ indigenous and 65+ seniors registered in Nantou County.

[County Standard]:

· Indigenous 55–64: NT$500

· 65–99: NT$1,000 | 100+: NT$10,000

[Nantou City Bonus]:

· 65–89: NT$1,500 | 90–99: NT$2,000

· 100+: NT$10,000 + gift

· County portion: Distributed starting 14 days before festival; choice of cash envelope or bank transfer.

· Nantou City bonus: Delivered by neighborhood leaders.

Yunlin County

Seniors aged 65+ registered in Yunlin County.

· 65–69: NT$1,000 | 70–79: NT$2,000

· 80–89: NT$3,000 | 90–99: NT$6,000

· 100+: NT$12,000

· Bank transfer: Directly deposited into senior’s account.

· In-person delivery: By village officers; centenarians personally visited and awarded by county government.

Chiayi County

Must be 65 on Senior Respect Festival day, registered in Chiayi County six months prior, and continuously residing one month before the festival.

· 65–89: NT$3,000

· 90–99: NT$6,000

· 100+: NT$9,000

· Disbursement: Begins one week before festival.

· Collection: 65–99 can choose cash or online transfer; centenarians personally congratulated by county magistrate or representative.

[Yilan Bonus] Yilan County Government Base Bonus & 12 Township/City Local Supplements

Rural Welfare Bonus

Administrative Area – Age Eligibility & Conditions – Bonus Amount (independent or combined)

Yilan County Government (Base Plan)

Registered in Yilan County by June 30 (inclusive) of the current year, and aged 90+ (80+ for indigenous).

· 90–99 (80–89 for indigenous): NT$2,000

· 100