On the morning of the 8th, Changhua County Government held a press conference on the “Changhua Elderly and Happiness Card” in the courtyard of the office building. This card was specifically designed for the elderly and disabled people for the convenience of transportation and daily life. The conference was hosted by Wei Ming-ku, the Magistrate of Changhua County and attended by many honorable guests. Magistrate Lin expressed that all the Changhua residents 65 years old or above and people holding disability cards (medical documents proving disability) are eligible to apply. Please apply at your local District Offices with the following items ready: your name chop, 2 2-inch photos, and photocopy of your ID card or Household Registration Card, Disability Card or related evidence. Magistrate Lin invites all residents to work together in order to make Changhua a happy and friendly city that provides care and concern to elderly and disabled people.
Magistrate Wei continued that collaborating with the EasyCard, Changhua County Government issued the “Elderly and Happiness Card” for the convenience of the people at 65 or older. He invited all the people eligible for application to apply at the nearest District Offices, with the following items ready: name chop, 2 2-inch photos, and photocopy of your ID card or Household Registration Card. At present, the “Elderly and Happiness Card” provides the subsidization of NT$300 per month for every older people. For the mid and low income elderly people, the subsidization will be NT$500 per month; low income elderly people, NT$800. In the coming year, it is expected to increase the subsidization to NT$1000 per person per month if the budget allows so that the older people in Changhua can travel around free to enjoy the happy life in the city.
There were 172,244 people that were aged 65 or above. Since November 1, 2008, Changhua County Government had launched the benefit of “free bus ride for the disabled and elderly people.” By the end of March 2015, 75,602 people had been applied to claim this benefit. Now, the County Government has launched the “Elderly and Happiness Card” to achieve the goal of “All round care for the happiness of all.” For the people at the age of 65 or above and disabled people, if their applications are granted, they can enjoy the subsidization of NT$300 per month. For the mid and low income elderly and disabled people, the subsidization will be NT$500 per month; low income elderly and disabled people, NT$800.
In addition to using the money in the “Elderly and Happiness Card” for riding on buses, holders can also use their cards as e-Purses to purchase any items at the stories in the four major convenience store chains, where they can also put money in them. This card is also valid in EasyCard stores, renting YouBike, and riding on Taipei MTR at 60% discount without the trouble of showing the user’s ID. Welcome all the elderly and disabled people in Changhua to apply. For the Sunshine e-Travel cardholders that have been using their cards for 5 years or more are eligible to exchange for this new card for free. If there is any question regarding the application of this card, welcome to inquire at the websites of the Applications, Elderly Welfare Section, Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government or call your local district offices.
Since his inauguration, Magistrate Wei has been working towards the goals of “All-round care for the happiness of all.” Providing diverse and all-round welfare services to the elderly people, he works ceaselessly to integrate all possible resources through cooperation between various government departments and sections, and collaboration with private sectors. In the future, the Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government will work towards the goal of “elderly friendly” as its core mission. Now, there are about 170 thousand elderly people, to whom multiple welfare services, such as economic security, care and concern, recreational, elderly protection, and more are provided. In addition, the operation of the Elderly College, Elderly University, and more to encourage the elderly people learn more and learn happier, achieving the goal of life-long learning. The government regards planning and implementing better welfares for the elderly people its mission. It is eager to forge an elderly friendly city for the care, concern, and happiness for all.

News contact: Miss Guo, Elderly Welfare Section, Department of Social Welfare, Changhua County Government (886-4-7532360)
Source: Changhua County Government Websites