The government has announced that its 2026 wealth-sharing cash handouts will be issued from July 1, with the programme’s modus operandi to remain unchanged from last year.
Last year, it was the first time that the government introduced major amendments to the modus operandi of its annual wealth-sharing programme since its launch in 2008, by rolling out the 183-day requirement.
The government’s wealth-sharing cash handouts this year will, in general, only be issued to Macau residents who stayed in Macau for at least 183 days in 2025, while those not staying in Macau due to at least one of eight formally defined reasons can submit their applications from June 15 requesting that they be officially exempted from the minimum stay requirement.
Since the government’s annual wealth-sharing programme was launched in 2008, the cash handouts had previously been paid out to every Macau permanent and non-permanent resident ID card holder until 2024, irrespective of place of birth, nationality, age, and current place of residence.
Eligible permanent local residents will receive 10,000 patacas each this year, while eligible non-permanent local residents will get 6,000 patacas each, with the amounts of the handouts for each beneficiary unchanged from last year.
Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak, who is also the spokesman for the government’s top advisory Executive Council, announced the government’s 2026 wealth-sharing cash handouts during a press conference at Government Headquarters on Friday.
According to the 2026 wealth-sharing programme, those not staying in Macau due to one of eight officially defined reasons can submit their applications between June 15 and December 31, 2029 requesting that they be officially exempted from the 183-day rule in order to benefit from this year’s wealth-sharing programme, namely:
1) Those studying for a higher education degree anywhere outside Macau officially recognised by the respective countries or regions’ authorities.
2) Those undergoing hospitalisation anywhere outside Macau.
3) Seniors aged at least 65 living in the Chinese mainland, or those under 65 living in the mainland because of the need to receive non-hospital care, palliative care or rehabilitation there.
4) Those working anywhere outside Macau for local employers registered with the Macau government’s Social Security Fund (FSS).
5) Those working anywhere outside Macau because of the need to support their family members living in Macau or Hengqin (the Hengqin rule has been newly added this year).
6) Those performing official duties anywhere outside Macau.
7) Those working in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, or studying there either for a higher education degree or being enrolled in a school, or merely living there.
8) Those working in one of the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Moreover, Wong said that according to the 2026 wealth-sharing programme, three special groups of Macau residents who stayed in Macau for less than 183 days last year but do not meet any of the eight reasons will also be eligible to receive this year’s cash handouts, without having to submit an application, namely:
1) Those aged below 22 by the end of last year but whose father or mother is eligible to receive the 2026 cash handout.
2) Those who were eligible last year to receive a monthly allowance for those with disabilities issued by the Social Security Fund (FSS).
3) Those who were eligible last year to receive an annual subsidy for those with disabilities issued by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS).
Those who apply to be officially exempted from the 183-day requirement can submit the required documents via the Macau One Account e-government app, the scheme’s dedicated website, or at one of the various service centres.
This file photo taken late last year shows a woman walking past the headquarters of the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) in Nam Van. The government’s annual cash handouts are issued by the bureau. – Photo: Tony Wong
