Seniors Aged 65+ Can Now Collect Money! One County City Announces a 'NT$6,500 Mid-Autumn Bonus,' with Three Additional Bonuses Next Year

Good news for seniors in the Keelung area. Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang recently attended the 19th 'Dasha Bay Forest Trail Happy Walking' event, where he personally announced to attendees that the city government team will soon launch a new initiative called the 'Chang Le 65 Project.' This policy aims to provide direct economic support to elderly citizens, with the first disbursement set to begin this Mid-Autumn Festival. Every eligible senior aged 65 and above will receive a cash subsidy of NT$6,500.

The primary goal of launching this project is to ensure that local elders receive more thoughtful care and welfare protection, while also allowing all citizens to share in the urban development achievements Keelung has made in recent years. Regarding specific eligibility requirements, such as age thresholds, household registration duration, and disbursement procedures—issues widely discussed by the public—the Keelung City Government is currently intensively preparing detailed arrangements. The full implementation guidelines will be officially released to the public at a later date.

Beyond receiving a NT$6,500 red envelope this Mid-Autumn Festival, the city's elder care plan is designed to be sustainable. According to the current planning framework of the Keelung City Government, the 'Chang Le 65 Project' is not a one-time cash giveaway. Instead, the city plans to expand the frequency of disbursements throughout the year. Starting next year, the city intends to distribute NT$6,500 per person during three major traditional festivals: Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, ensuring elders receive stable welfare allowances during festive seasons.

However, the city government emphasized that since each disbursement phase involves budget allocation and practical execution processes, the actual disbursement dates, collection channels, and related payment procedures for each festival will ultimately be based on official announcements from the Keelung City Government. Families with eligible elders are advised to closely monitor the latest operational notices issued by the city.

In addition to unveiling the senior welfare program, Mayor Hsieh also updated citizens on progress regarding recreational facilities. He specifically previewed that the long-anticipated renovation of the Keelung City Athletics Stadium is nearing completion. Once reopened, the facility will not only offer citizens a high-quality and safe environment for sports and fitness but will also integrate convenient, everyday-life-oriented functions into its overall site planning.

Inside the newly completed athletics stadium area, a 24-hour fully operational parking lot will be simultaneously added, effectively addressing parking demands in the surrounding region. The city government hopes that by combining improved hardware infrastructure with software-based welfare policies, Keelung can build a more convenient, healthy, and age-inclusive living environment for residents of all generations.