Can Elderly Love Cards Be Used at Convenience Stores? Taichung City Clarifies '1,000 Monthly Points' Welfare Benefits

Recently, social media has been flooded with posts about 'new information on elderly card upgrades' and enhanced benefits, claiming that elderly love cards can now be used for shopping at convenience stores and supermarkets, with points that do not expire. This sparked significant attention and widespread sharing among seniors. However, since these online messages omitted the critical detail of 'applicable cities,' many elderly residents from other counties attempted to use their cards only to be turned away, leading to public frustration. In response, Taichung City Government's Social Bureau issued an urgent clarification, stating that this policy is exclusively implemented by Taipei City Government. Taichung has not adopted the second-generation card or opened convenience store usage, and the claim that 'points do not expire' is false.

Can elderly cards be used for shopping at convenience stores? Do points really not expire? Taichung Social Bureau issues urgent clarification: It's false information!

The source of this social media buzz was Taipei City's announcement in June of upgraded elderly card benefits. Starting in July, Taipei plans to increase card points to 600 and gradually expand eligible usage starting next year:

• First half of 2027: Increase subsidies for Taoyuan Airport MRT and double-decker sightseeing buses. • Second half of 2027: Plan to allow usage at pharmacies, convenience stores, supermarkets, and farmers' associations. • 2029 (Minguo Year 118): Complete issuance of 'second-generation cards' and implement a point accumulation system.

However, many users shared this information on social platforms without specifying 'Taipei only,' causing seniors across Taiwan to mistakenly believe the policy applied to their own cities, resulting in failed transactions and disputes.

Taichung Social Bureau Clarification: No need to issue second-generation cards! Unused 1,000 monthly points will still expire

In response to online rumors, Taichung City Social Bureau officially clarified that the 'new elderly card information' is false in Taichung. The current policy for Taichung's Elderly Love Card is as follows:

• No need to issue second-generation cards: Taichung currently has no plans to issue second-generation elderly cards. • Point issuance and expiration: 1,000 welfare points (1 point = 1 NT dollar) are issued monthly. Unused points automatically expire at the end of each month; there is no point accumulation or carryover system. • No convenience store shopping: Taichung Elderly Love Cards are not yet open for use at pharmacies, convenience stores, supermarkets, or farmers' associations.

Where can Taichung's Elderly Love Card be used? Full details on public transit, MRT, medical discounts, and taxi subsidies increased by NT$100

Taichung City Social Bureau explained that the current monthly 1,000 welfare points primarily support three areas: transportation, healthcare, and sports:

• Public transportation: Fully subsidizes contracted buses and highway buses in Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Miaoli, and Yunlin counties; fully covers contracted routes on intercity buses; fully subsidizes Taichung MRT fares; for TRA (Taiwan Railways), maximum NT$45 discount per trip when entering/exiting from any of Taichung's 23 stations.

• Medical care: At Taichung's district health centers and contracted clinics, can offset the basic outpatient co-payment of the National Health Insurance by NT$50 per visit.

• Sports facilities: Can be used to offset single-entry fees at Taichung's National Sports Centers or Sports Parks (e.g., swimming pools, gyms).

• Increased taxi subsidy: Previously, partnered taxis offered NT$85 per ride subsidy. Taichung City Social Bureau announced that starting October 1, the one-way subsidy will increase to NT$100.

Which cities allow elderly cards to be used at convenience stores?

Currently, Taipei City and New Taipei City plan to allow partial use of elderly card points at the four major convenience stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and farmers' associations starting in the second half of 2027.

Online rumors about second-generation elderly love cards having non-expiring points — Taichung City Government reminds citizens not to believe false information (Image/ Taichung City Government)

Source: Taichung City Government