Macau’s annual cash-handout since 2008 will begin distribution on 1 July, the local government has announced.
Like last year, the “Wealth Partaking Scheme 2026” will only cover Macau residents who have stayed in the SAR for at least 183 days in the previous year, with each eligible permanent and non-permanent resident to receive MOP 10,000 and MOP 6,000, respectively.
Prior to last year, the wealth-sharing programme covered all Macau permanent and non-permanent residents regardless of current place of residence or the number of days a resident has stayed in Macau in the previous year.
Meanwhile, Macau residents not staying in Macau for at least 183 days in 2025 due to at least one of eight formally defined reasons can submit their applications from 15 June to request for an exemption from the 183-day requirement.
The eight formal reasons are:
1. Attendance at overseas tertiary education courses accredited by relevant local authorities;
2. Hospitalisation;
3. Residence in mainland China and being aged 65 or above, or residing in mainland China for health reasons and aged below 65;
4. Work outside Macau for an employer registered with the Social Security Fund;
5. Work outside Macau in order to bear the main living expenses of family members residing in Macao or, from this year, Hengqin;
6. Performance of public service duties;
7. Residence, work or attendance in relation to locally-accredited tertiary or non-tertiary education courses in the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin;
8. Work in mainland China in one of the cities that form part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Meanwhile, the government also pointed out there are three special groups of Macau residents who stayed in the SAR for less than 183 days throughout 2025 but do not meet any of the eight reasons above, and will still be automatically eligible for this year’s Wealth Partaking Scheme.
This group comprises people “aged below 22 by the end of 2025 but whose father or mother is eligible to receive the 2026 cash handout”, as well as those who were eligible last year to receive “a monthly allowance for those with disabilities” or “an annual subsidy for those with disabilities” issued by Macau’s Social Security Fund (FSS)”, according to a report by The Macau Post Daily.
More information about this year’s Wealth Partaking Scheme, including how to submit applications for the 183-day requirement exemption, can be found via this link. (Gilbert Humphrey)
Photo: Chris Wu
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