Seniors, Hurry to Claim Your Benefits! Starting August 1, Kaohsiung Elder Card Welfare Boosted: '600 Points Monthly Until Passing,' Available via Card in One County

Kaohsiung City Government has upgraded its senior-friendly and disability-inclusive welfare measures! Starting August 1, holders of Kaohsiung Elder Cards or Love Cards can now renew their MeNGo monthly passes using social welfare points not only at district offices and Social Affairs Bureau service points but also at all Kaohsiung MRT station service counters and Qishan Transfer Station. This expansion applies to both the NT$199 Kaohsiung Bus Unlimited Monthly Pass and the NT$399 Kaohsiung Urban Commuter Monthly Pass, enabling seniors to conveniently apply nearby on weekdays or holidays and enjoy enhanced public transportation benefits.

Maximizing the value of Elder and Love Cards: MeNGo Monthly Pass Renewals Now Available Across Entire MRT Network from August

The Kaohsiung City Social Affairs Bureau explained that previously, purchasing MeNGo monthly passes with Elder or Love Card points was limited to district offices or the Social Affairs Bureau, often requiring special trips. Through cross-departmental collaboration among the Social Affairs Bureau, Transportation Bureau, and Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, the renewal function has now been extended to all MRT stations and Qishan Transfer Station.

Seniors and disabled individuals who have already linked their MeNGo monthly pass can proceed to nearby locations starting August 1 with the following documents:

- Personal ID (both parties' IDs required if applying by proxy) - Kaohsiung Elder Card or Love Card (with sufficient social welfare points) - Original MeNGo monthly pass card

First-time users: Dedicated consultation counters at 6 major MRT hubs

For seniors attempting to use their Elder or Love Cards to apply for MeNGo monthly passes for the first time, especially those unfamiliar with online registration or card linking procedures, the city government has established dedicated consultation service counters at six key MRT stations, where staff will assist with membership registration and answer questions:

- MRT Red Line: R6 Kaohsiung Arena Station, R10 Formosa Boulevard Station, R13 Aozihdi Station, R24 Gangshan Hospital Station - MRT Orange Line: O7 Cultural Center Station, O13 Dadong Station

The Kaohsiung City Social Affairs Bureau emphasized that it will continue reviewing and optimizing elderly welfare measures, actively expanding the usage scope and versatility of social welfare points. For detailed information on Elder Card and Love Card application eligibility and regulations, visit the official website of the Kaohsiung City Government Social Affairs Bureau.

2026 Kaohsiung Elder Card Application Eligibility

- General citizens: Registered residents of Kaohsiung City aged 65 or above (eligible from the first working day of the birth month). - Indigenous people: Registered residents of Kaohsiung City aged 55 or above.

2026 Kaohsiung Elder Card Application Locations and Fees

- On-site card pickup (no waiting): Bring required documents to district office social affairs divisions or the Social Affairs Bureau's Elder Welfare Division. First-time applications are free. - MRT station application: Available at service counters of all Kaohsiung MRT stations; cards will be delivered back to the original station within approximately 10 working days for pickup. - Replacement: In case of loss or damage, first call iPASS customer service (07-7912000) to report the loss, then visit a district office or MRT station to reapply and pay a NT$100 card production fee.

Monthly 600-Point 'Card Activation' and Distribution Rules

- Points issued on the 1st of each month, valid only for that month. Unused points automatically expire at month-end and cannot be carried over.

How to Activate Your Card:

- Automatic Tap: Tap your card when riding Kaohsiung city buses, ferries, MRT, or light rail, or when transacting at sports centers, cultural venues, or designated medical institutions. The system will automatically activate and load the 600 points for the month. - Counter Setup: Visit a district office, Social Affairs Bureau, or Kaohsiung MRT station service counter to activate via card tap.

Reminder (Before riding TRA or taxis): TRA and contracted taxi card readers lack the 'tap-to-activate' function. At the beginning of each month, you must first ride a bus or MRT to activate your points; otherwise, attempting to ride TRA or taxis will result in point errors or failed deductions.

600-Point Social Welfare Point Redemption Scope

General Rule: If points are insufficient, the system will automatically deduct the remaining amount from the card's 'e-wallet balance.' It is recommended to maintain an adequate balance on the card.

1. Public Transportation

- Kaohsiung Light Rail, Bus-style Taxis, Happiness Buses: Free rides (no points deducted, but card tap required upon entry/exit). - Kaohsiung City Buses/Highway Buses: Half-price deduction in points (minimum 8 points, maximum 16 points per ride; not applicable to tourist routes). - Kaohsiung MRT: Half-price deduction per ride. - Kaohsiung City-operated Ferries: Half-price deduction per ride (not applicable to tourist routes). - TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration): At least one of the departure or arrival stations must be among 18 designated stations within Kaohsiung City (e.g., Gangshan, Xinzuoying, Kaohsiung, Fengshan). Half-price deduction per ride, up to a maximum of 50 points (not applicable to tourist trains, designated seat services like 3000-series Tzu-Chiang trains). - Contracted Taxis: Maximum deduction of 85 points per ride. Must book in advance via phone or app with contracted fleets (e.g., Taiwan Taxi 55688, Yoxi, Kaohsiung Metropolitan), specifying Elder Card usage. Volunteer service counters at 22 designated hospitals across the port area can also assist with bookings.

2. Medical Outpatient Registration Fees (maximum 50 points per visit)

- Municipal and Public Hospitals: Kaohsiung Municipal Chinese Medicine Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Minsheng Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare Qishan Hospital, Kaohsiung Municipal Datong, Xiaogang, Cijin, Gangshan, Fengshan Hospitals. - Health Centers: All 38 district health centers in Kaohsiung City. (Only applicable to counter payment of 'outpatient registration fees,' excluding emergency, medication fees, or self-service machine payments.)

3. Leisure and Sports Venues (maximum 50 points per visit)

- Sports Centers: Fengshan, Cianjin, Zuoying, Yancheng, Lingya, Meinong, Daliao, Gangshan, Gushan, Nanzih, and other public-private partnership sports centers. - Designated Silver Fitness Clubs: Gangshan Xianghao, Daliao Jin'an Kang, Ziguang Zixin, United Hospital Club, Cianjing 234, and other designated locations. - Municipal Cultural Venues: Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung Film Archive, Neiwei Theater, Takao British Consulate, Fengyi Academy, Hongmaogang Cultural Park, Goodbye 886, Jhenciuan, Hamasen Taiwan Railway Museum.

Direct Purchase of 'MeNGo Monthly Pass' with Social Welfare Points

For frequent public transport users, points can be fully redeemed for monthly pass plans (requires physical Elder Card; point + cash top-up not supported):

- NT$199 Kaohsiung Bus Unlimited Monthly Pass (deducts 199 points): Unlimited rides on city buses, bus-style taxis, and Happiness Buses for 30 days, plus free first 30 minutes per ride on YouBike 2.0(E). - NT$399 Kaohsiung Urban Commuter Monthly Pass (deducts 399 points): Unlimited rides on MRT, light rail, city buses, highway buses, ferries, TRA (between Dahu and Jiouqu Tang), plus free first 30 minutes per ride on YouBike 2.0(E) for 30 days.

Purchase Locations

- First-time purchase: Complete membership registration via MeNGo APP or official website (can be done via a relative's phone), then bring ID and Elder Card to district offices or the Social Affairs Bureau's Elder Welfare Division. - Monthly pass renewal: In addition to district offices, available at all Kaohsiung MRT station service counters and Qishan Transfer Station (renewal available 3 days before expiration).

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q1: Can unused 600 points from the current month be carried over to the next month? A1: No. Points follow a 'monthly issuance, monthly use' policy and will automatically expire at month-end if unused.

Q2: After exhausting the monthly 600 points, are there still transportation discounts? A2: Yes. After using up the 600 points, according to the Elderly Welfare Act, seniors still enjoy half-price fares on buses, MRT, TRA, and other public transport (deducted directly from the card's e-wallet balance).

Q3: What should I do if my card expires? A3: Elder Cards are valid for 10 years. If used within one month before or after expiration, simply tap the card on a bus, MRT, or light rail to automatically extend validity by 10 years. If expired for over a month, visit a district office, Social Affairs Bureau, or 'iPASS North Kaohsiung Service Center (Houyi Station)' to renew.

Q4: If I lose my Elder Card, can I get a refund for the stored value balance? A4: Yes. First call iPASS customer service (07-7912000) to report the loss, then bring your ID and a copy of your personal bank passbook to a district office or Social Affairs Bureau to apply for a refund. The amount will be transferred to your designated account within 10 working days. When reapplying for a new card, you may also request to transfer the old card's balance to the new one.