2026 Six-Metropolitan Senior Respect Allowance Is Here! Receive Up to $20,000 – Funds Arrive Starting September 1 – Full Details on Amounts and Distribution Schedule

Attention families with elderly relatives! The Double Ninth Festival in 2026 falls on Sunday, October 18. Applications for the senior respect allowance in the six major cities (Six Metropolitans) are now open, and distribution schedules have been announced. This year’s allowances are particularly generous, ranging from NT$1,500 to a maximum of NT$20,000. Taipei City has taken the lead: seniors who apply online via the Social Welfare Department website by today (August 14) could receive their first payment directly into their designated account as early as September 1. To ensure your elderly family members successfully receive this respectful gift, pay close attention to each city’s residency duration requirements and bank account registration deadlines! Below is a comprehensive guide summarizing the 2026 Six-Metropolitan Senior Respect Allowance, including eligibility criteria, age-based payment amounts, and disbursement timelines.

2026 Six-Metropolitan Senior Respect Allowance: Detailed Eligibility, Payment Amounts, and Application Methods

1. Taipei City Senior Respect Allowance (Up to NT$10,000) Taipei City is simultaneously upgrading benefits for its Elderly Love Card program, increasing monthly points to 600 starting in July. Seniors who choose to collect their allowance by “tapping” their Elderly Card or Love iPass at designated terminals can also participate in additional prize draws hosted by the Taipei City Government!

Eligibility: Must have been registered as a resident of Taipei City for at least three consecutive months prior to the Double Ninth Festival (registered on or before July 18, 2026), and must turn 65 or older (55 or older for Indigenous peoples) by December 31 of this year.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 65–84 (Indigenous 55–84): NT$1,500 • Ages 85–98 (Indigenous 75–88): NT$3,000 • Age 99 and above (Indigenous 89 and above): NT$10,000 plus one gift item

Collection Methods (Choose One for General Seniors): • Online/Paper Registration for Direct Deposit: From now until August 14, apply online via the Social Welfare Department website or submit a consent form at any district office. First batch of payments will be credited on September 1. • Tap-to-Load: Between September 7 and 18, tap your card at Taipei MRT station EasyCard top-up machines, four major convenience stores, or Mei Lian She outlets to load the allowance. • In-Person Cash Pickup: Between October 15 and 17, collect cash at designated locations within your registered district office.

Important Notes: • For those aged 99 and above, payments will either be delivered personally by the chief officer or deposited directly. Low-income households will receive direct deposits from the Social Welfare Department. • Do not provide accounts designated for preferential savings (18% deposit accounts) or pension disbursements, as these cannot receive transfers. Reapplication for missed payments is possible until December 31, 2026; failure to apply by then will be considered forfeiture.

2. New Taipei City Senior Respect Allowance (Up to NT$20,000)

Eligibility: Must be 65 or older (55 or older for Indigenous peoples) in the month of the Double Ninth Festival (October). Must have resided in New Taipei City for at least one full year (by the end of October during the festival year) and maintained continuous residency up to one month before the festival date.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 65–79 (Indigenous 55 and above): NT$1,500 • Ages 80–89: NT$2,000 • Ages 90–99: NT$5,000 • Age 100 and above: NT$20,000

Collection Methods: • Direct Bank Transfer (Preferred): From now until August 27, complete and submit the “Double Ninth Festival Senior Respect Allowance Financial Account Application Form” at any district office or download it online. • Cash Collection: For those who do not provide an account, district offices will conduct定点 gifting events or dispatch personnel to deliver cash in person.

A “Senior Respect Allowance Inquiry Zone” opens annually from June to December. Enter your ID number and birthdate to check your application status online.

3. Taoyuan City Senior Respect Allowance (Up to NT$20,000)

Eligibility: Must be 65 or older (55 or older for Indigenous peoples) on the day of the Double Ninth Festival, have resided in Taoyuan City for at least six months with proof of actual residence; or be a foreign national approved under the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Mackay Program and residing in Taoyuan City.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 65–98: NT$2,500 • Age 99 and above: NT$20,000

Collection Methods: • Under Age 99: Direct deposit into postal or designated financial accounts by district offices five days before the festival (cash pickup permitted only under special circumstances with approval). • Age 99 and above: Cash presented in person by representatives from the district office or Social Welfare Department.

4. Taichung City Senior Respect Allowance (Up to NT$10,000)

Eligibility: Residents of Taichung City aged 65 or above (born on or before December 31, 1965), Indigenous peoples aged 55 or above (born on or before December 31, 1975), and registered in the city by August 27, 2026.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 65–89 (Indigenous 55–89): NT$2,000 • Ages 90–94: NT$3,000 • Ages 95–99: NT$5,000 • Age 100 and above: NT$10,000

Collection Methods: • Direct Deposit Application: Funds credited on October 8 (must apply online via the Social Welfare Convenience Station or submit a paper application at a district office by August 28). • Cash Collection: For those who did not apply for deposit, distributions will be scheduled between September 30 and October 19 by respective district offices. Please bring original ID and personal seal.

Important Notes: Those who fail to collect within the deadline and do not respond to notifications may extend collection until November 30, 2026. No retroactive claims after that date. Individuals deceased, missing without deregistration, or overseas without completing collection by the deadline will not receive payments.

5. Tainan City Senior Respect Allowance (Increased Payout This Year)

Eligibility: Seniors aged 65–99 and Indigenous peoples aged 55–64 (must have been registered and continuously residing in the city by June 30 of this year); centenarians (age 100+) are verified according to the list maintained by the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Social and Family Affairs Administration.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 55–99 (Indigenous 55–64): NT$1,500 (increased from NT$1,300 starting this year) • Age 100 and above: NT$10,000 cash plus one gift item

Collection Method: Unified direct deposit on October 23. For those without provided accounts, district offices or neighborhood officers will personally distribute cash. (No retroactive payment for individuals overseas without returning.)

6. Kaohsiung City Senior Respect Allowance (Up to NT$10,000)

Eligibility: Seniors aged 65 or above (55 or above for Indigenous peoples), must have registered residency in Kaohsiung City by June 30 of the current year, and must not have moved out by September 29.

Payment Amounts: • Ages 65–89 (Indigenous 55–64): NT$1,500 • Ages 90–99: NT$5,000 • Age 100 and above: NT$10,000 (Social Welfare Department will dispatch dedicated personnel for home visitation and presentation)

Collection Method: Direct deposit for those who have provided Farmers’ Association or Post Office accounts; for others, district offices will assist in distributing cash in person.

2026 Six-Metropolitan Senior Respect Allowance Summary Table

| City | Payment Amount | |------|----------------| | Taipei City | NT$1,500 – NT$10,000 (includes gift; tapping card allows entry into lottery) | | New Taipei City | NT$1,500 – NT$20,000 | | Taoyuan City | NT$2,500 – NT$20,000 (all aged 65–98 receive NT$2,500) | | Taichung City | NT$2,000 – NT$10,000 | | Tainan City | NT$1,500 – NT$10,000 (includes gift; general senior amount increased) | | Kaohsiung City | NT$1,500 – NT$10,000 |