Retirement Benefits for Farmers Without Labor or National Insurance: Eligible Seniors Aged 65+ Can Receive NT$8,000 Monthly Until Death – Full Details on Payment Schedule and Amounts

To support the retirement lives of grassroots individuals engaged in agriculture and fisheries, the government has implemented the 'Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance (Lao Nong Jin Tie)' system. This serves as a crucial supplementary measure during the period when Farmers' Insurance does not provide old-age benefits. How much can recipients receive monthly? What is the latest progress on the proposed increase to NT$10,000? What are the eligibility criteria and asset/income thresholds? This article compiles a comprehensive 2026 guide to the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance to help you quickly understand your rights.

2026 Complete Guide to Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance: Updates on NT$10,000 Increase, Payment Amounts, Eligibility, and Asset Thresholds

The Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance is disbursed on a monthly basis. Once approved, payments begin in the month of application and continue until the month of the recipient's death. In principle, the government reviews and adjusts the payment amount every four years based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate.

### Current Payment Standards

- Full allowance: NT$8,110 per month - Half allowance: NT$4,055 per month (only applicable to specific transitional cases under Farmers' Insurance)

### Status of the NT$10,000 Increase Legislation

The Executive Yuan has proposed an amendment to the 'Temporary Regulations on Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance,' aiming to raise the allowance to NT$10,000 per month. The proposal also includes a mid-term review mechanism: if the cumulative CPI growth reaches 3% two years after the last adjustment, an early adjustment can be triggered.

The draft bill has been submitted to the Legislative Yuan for party negotiation but has not yet passed its third reading. Although the Executive Yuan has publicly stated that, if passed, the law would be retroactively effective from July 1, 2026, this remains a policy declaration. Until the Legislative Yuan completes the formal legal procedures, the current payment amount remains NT$8,110.

### What Is the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance? How Does It Differ from Farmers' Insurance and Farmers' Retirement Savings?

Many people confuse the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance with Farmers' Insurance benefits and Farmers' Retirement Savings. These three programs differ in funding sources and nature:

- Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance: A supplementary welfare allowance funded by the government budget due to the lack of old-age benefits under Farmers' Insurance. It includes asset and income thresholds (anti-wealth provisions). - Farmers' Insurance Benefits: Falls under social insurance, covering maternity, funeral, and disability benefits, but does not include old-age benefits. - Farmers' Retirement Savings: A separate savings system where farmers and the government contribute equally to individual retirement savings accounts.

### 2026 Eligibility for Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance: Comparison of Farmer and Fisherman Requirements

Applicants, whether farmers or fishermen, must meet the following basic conditions:

- Aged 65 or older with household registration in the Republic of China. - Resided in Taiwan for at least 183 days each year over the past three years. - Not simultaneously receiving other similar government living subsidies or allowances during the benefit period (e.g., low-income elderly living allowance, disability living allowance, veteran support payments, etc.).

In addition to these basic conditions, farmers and fishermen have separate insurance eligibility requirements.

#### Farmer Eligibility

- Full allowance (NT$8,110): Must be continuously enrolled in Farmers' Insurance at the time of application, with a cumulative insurance period of 15 years or more. - Half allowance (NT$4,055): Only for those who joined Farmers' Insurance on or before July 17, 2014, and have maintained continuous coverage, with an insurance period of at least 6 months but less than 15 years at the time of application.

Social insurance restrictions: Generally, applicants must not have received old-age benefits from public servant insurance, labor insurance, military insurance, or National Pension. However, those who joined Farmers' Insurance before November 12, 1998, and have maintained uninterrupted eligibility are exempt from this restriction.

#### Fisherman Eligibility

- Eligibility criteria: Must be a Class A member of a fishery association with at least 15 years of membership and have already received labor insurance old-age benefits. - Enrollment timeline: Must have joined labor insurance and obtained Class A fishery association membership before November 12, 1998, with uninterrupted eligibility.

Note: The 'half allowance' transitional provision does not apply to fishermen.

### Asset and Income Thresholds (Anti-Wealth Provisions) and Primary Residence Deduction Rules

Applicants who first apply on or after January 1, 2013, must pass a tax and financial review, meeting both income and real estate restrictions to qualify:

| Review Item | Current Standard (in effect) | Proposed Amendment (not yet effective) | |-------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Income Limit | Individual annual comprehensive income (excluding agricultural income) below NT$500,000 | Proposed increase to below NT$600,000 | | Real Estate Limit | Total value of land and buildings under individual name below NT$5,000,000 | Proposed increase to below NT$10,250,000 | | Primary Residence Deduction (no farm residence) | Up to NT$4,000,000 can be deducted from the sum of assessed building value and announced land value | Proposed removal of deduction cap |

#### Important Notes on Real Estate Deductions:

- Land value is calculated based on 'announced land value,' and building value is based on 'assessed standard price.' - Assets eligible for prior deduction: agricultural land, farmhouses, public facility reserved land not yet compensated, indigenous reserved land without economic benefit, and roads under public easement. - The NT$4,000,000 deduction for primary residence applies only to those who do not own a farmhouse. If a farmhouse is already owned, another primary residence cannot claim this deduction.

### How to Apply for the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance: Application Channels and Steps

Eligible individuals can apply in the month they turn 65, through one of two channels:

#### In-Person Application:

Bring your national ID card, personal seal, and your passbook from a farmers' or fishermen's credit cooperative (or designated post office/bank) to your local grassroots farmers' or fishermen's association.

#### Online Application:

Use a natural person certificate, mobile natural person certificate, mobile phone authentication, or financial electronic certificate to log in to the Labor Insurance Bureau's 'E-Service System' for personal declaration. Fishermen applying online will have their eligibility preliminarily reviewed by their affiliated fishery association, notified by the Labor Insurance Bureau.

### When Is the Allowance Deposited? Payment Dates and FAQs

#### Payment Schedule and Account Changes

The Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance is deposited on the 20th of each month into the applicant's designated account at a farmers' or fishermen's credit cooperative or post office. If the 20th falls on a holiday, the deposit is made earlier. To change the receiving account, submit a 'Change of Account Application Form' to the Labor Insurance Bureau.

#### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance be received simultaneously with National Pension?

A: Farmers generally cannot receive both. If already receiving National Pension old-age annuity or other social insurance benefits, they cannot simultaneously claim the Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance unless they meet the transitional clause: enrolled in Farmers' Insurance before November 12, 1998, with uninterrupted eligibility.

Q: What should be done if the applicant passes away during the benefit period?

A: Heirs must notify the farmers' or fishermen's association within 30 days. The allowance for the month of death, if not yet disbursed, can be claimed by legal heirs with a death certificate and a joint authorization statement submitted to the Labor Insurance Bureau. Any overpayment must be voluntarily returned.

### August 2026 Labor Insurance Bureau Payment Schedule for Benefits and Allowances

To help the public track disbursement timelines, here is the scheduled calendar for the month:

| Scheduled Deposit Date | Scheduled Payment Items | |------------------------|--------------------------| | August 6 | National Pension Insurance Maternity Benefit | | August 13 | National Pension Insurance Maternity Benefit | | August 14 | National Pension Insurance Funeral Benefit | | August 20 | Elderly Farmers' Welfare Allowance, Farmers' Monthly Retirement Savings, National Pension Insurance Maternity Benefit | | August 25 | National Pension Insurance Basic Old-Age Guarantee Annuity, National Pension Insurance Indigenous Benefit | | August 27 | National Pension Insurance Maternity Benefit | | August 28 | Labor Insurance Annuity, Disaster Insurance Annuity, Disaster Insurance Disability Care Subsidy, Labor Retirement Monthly Pension | | August 31 | National Pension Insurance Old-Age Annuity, National Pension Insurance Disability Annuity (combined with Labor Insurance tenure), National Pension Insurance Funeral/Dependent Annuity, Prenatal Checkup Leave and Companion Prenatal/Childbirth Leave Wage Subsidy |