Macau – May 29, 2025 — The Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has announced a significant update to its annual Wealth Partaking Scheme. Starting in 2025, residents must have resided in Macau for at least 183 days during the previous year to qualify for the cash handout. This new criterion aims to ensure that the benefits reach those actively contributing to Macau’s society and economy.
Despite the new residency requirement, the cash handout amounts remain unchanged: MOP 10,000 for permanent residents and MOP 6,000 for non-permanent residents. The scheme is set to commence on July 15, 2025. Residents can verify their eligibility through the Macao One Account app starting at 3 p.m. today.
Exemptions to the 183-day rule apply to specific groups, including:
- Residents under the age of 22 in 2024 with at least one eligible parent.
- Recipients of disability pensions or subsidies.
- Individuals studying at overseas tertiary institutions.
- Those working, living, or studying in Hengqin.
- Residents working in the Greater Bay Area.
- Residents aged 65 or above living in mainland China.
Eligible individuals in these categories can apply for the handout between June 18, 2025, and December 31, 2028, by submitting their claims to the Social Security Fund.
First introduced in 2008 to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis, the Wealth Partaking Scheme has become a cornerstone of Macau’s social welfare policy. The last adjustment to the handout amounts occurred in 2019, setting the current disbursement levels. In 2024, approximately 748,000 residents benefited from the scheme.
Secretary for Administration and Justice Cheong Weng Chon stated that the introduction of the residency requirement responds to public calls for a more targeted approach, ensuring that the scheme benefits those who are genuinely part of the Macau community.
