In response to the policy direction of the “Ten-Year Plan for Rehabilitation Services of the Macao Special Administrative Region from 2016 to 2025”, the Social Security Fund (abbreviated to FSS in Macao) formally implemented the Employment Incentive Programme for Disability Pension Beneficiaries (the Programme) on 1st January this year so as to promote the participation of people with disabilities in the community.  A total of seven people participated in the Programme in the first month of implementation.  The FSS will continue to actively contact social service agencies and relevant beneficiaries, and to step up publicity.

Participating in the Employment Incentive Programme for Disability Pension Beneficiaries is voluntary.  The Programme applies to beneficiaries who are currently receiving disability pension or temporary disability subsidy and are interested in trying to seek employment.  Interested parties only need to make a declaration to the FSS in order to do the trial work for a certain period of time.  For beneficiaries who are still unable to integrate formally into the labour market after doing the trial work but they have not exceeded the trial work duration, they can continue to receive the disability pension or the temporary disability subsidy through the rapid return mechanism of the Programme.  Only when the beneficiary’s trial work duration ends will he or she be deemed to be integrated formally into the labour market and the related benefit will then be stopped.  Through the Programme, the FSS hopes to encourage and promote the participation of people with disabilities in the community and help them build self-confidence and enhance the quality of life.

Beneficiaries may do the trial work for up to two times within 12 months starting from the start month of the first-time trial work.  Each time of trial work lasts for 90 days and must be declared independently.  Beneficiaries should declare the commencement of trial work within 15 days after its commencement and declare the latest employment status within 15 days after the trial work or the 90-day trial work duration ends.

As for beneficiaries of disability pension or temporary disability subsidy who have integrated formally into the labour market, they may go to the Labour Affairs Bureau to register for employment if they subsequently stops working; and they may apply for unemployment allowance if they satisfy the requirements of unemployment allowance, or they may apply for disability pension again if they lose their ability to work.

The FSS conducted the six-month Employment Incentive Pilot Programme for Disability Pension Beneficiaries in July last year.  The Programme received the endorsement of rehabilitation groups and people with disabilities.  After taking views from various groups, the Programme has been optimized on the basis of the original one and was rolled out in this year.  For more information about the Programme, please call 2853 2850 during office hours for enquires.