As an individual who has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, the Serious Disease Allowance may have granted you financial assistance during your time of need.

However, it’s understandable to be curious about when this assistance can come to an end. In this article, we’ll discuss when your eligibility for Serious Disease Allowance expires.

What is the Serious Disease Allowance?

The Serious Disease Allowance is a benefit introduced by the government of Hong Kong for individuals with serious diseases.

This allowance provides eligible individuals with financial assistance to help with the high expenses that come with such a diagnosis, such as medical bills, medication and rehabilitation expenses, and transportation costs.

How long can you receive the Serious Disease Allowance?

You can be eligible to receive the Serious Disease Allowance for a maximum period of one year. The one-year period is counted from the first day of the month following the submission date of your application.

After this one-year period, you will not be able to receive any further financial assistance from the Serious Disease Allowance scheme unless you apply for a re-application.

When should you submit a re-application for Serious Disease Allowance?

If you are still in need of financial assistance after the one-year period ends, you can submit a re-application for Serious Disease Allowance.

The re-application process can be done in advance of the expiration date of your initial application to ensure that there is no break in your financial assistance.

The re-application is subject to the same eligibility criteria and proof of financial need as the initial application. The approval timeframe for a re-application is also the same and can take up to 30 working days.

What happens if you recover from your serious disease?

If your condition improves and you recover from your serious disease before the one-year period expires, you will no longer be eligible to receive the Serious Disease Allowance.

As a result, you should inform the Social Welfare Department as soon as possible, and they will stop the allowance payment.

What happens if your condition worsens before the one-year period expiration?

If your condition worsens before the one-year period expires, you can apply for an increase in your Serious Disease Allowance amount.

The process to apply for an increase is similar to that of the initial application, and the approval timeframe is also up to 30 working days.

What are the eligibility criteria for Serious Disease Allowance?

The eligibility criteria for Serious Disease Allowance are:.

You must be a Hong Kong resident
You must be aged 12 or above
You must be diagnosed with a serious disease
Your monthly income and assets must not exceed a certain limit

How can you apply for Serious Disease Allowance?

You can apply for Serious Disease Allowance by submitting the following documents to the Social Welfare Department:.

Application form
A medical certificate confirming your serious disease
A declaration of your monthly income and assets
Other relevant documents (e.g., proof of expenses incurred due to your serious disease)

You can submit the application form and documents by post or in person to the Social Welfare Department’s Service Units, Integrated Family Service Centres, or Social Security Field Units.

Conclusion

The Serious Disease Allowance is a beneficial scheme that provides financial assistance to individuals with serious diseases. However, it’s important to know that your eligibility for the allowance expires after a maximum period of one year.

If you still require financial assistance after the expiration date, you can submit a re-application for the allowance.