Backgrond:

Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of the Father of the nation, launched the 'Old age allowance' program in the fiscal year 1997-98 in order to provide social security for the elderly, poor and low-income or disabled people of the country and to enhance their dignity in the family and society. Initially, all the union councils of the country are subject to the payment of an allowance at the rate of Tk. 100 per month to 10 poor elderly persons, including 05 men and 05 women, in each ward.

As part of the implementation of the present government's election manifesto, the current government has increased the number of post-paid elderly beneficiaries, as well as increasing the monthly allowance, to double the number of elderly people by 2021. An allowance has been made at the rate of Tk. 500 per month to 44 lakh elderly persons in the financial year of 2018-19. In the current financial year, the allocation in this sector is Tk. 2400 crore. The highest level of intensive monitoring of the government and the relentless labor of all the officers and employees of the Department of Social Services have achieved almost 100 per cent success in distribution of old age allowance.

Implementing Authority: Department Of Social Services

Starting of the Program: 1997-98 fiscal year.

Aims and Objectives:

(1) The provision of socio-economic development and social security of the elderly population;

(2) increase their dignity in the family and society;

(3) Strengthening their morale through financial grants;

(4) To help increase the supply of medical and nutrition.

Candidate selection criteria:

(A) Citizenship: The candidate must be a permanent citizen of Bangladesh.

(B) Age: The highest priority must be given to the senior person.

(C) Health status: The highest priority should be given to the person who is physically disabled, ie completely non-functioning.

(D) Socio-economic status:

(1) In the case of financial situation: the destitute, the refugee and the landless should be given priority in succession.

(2) In the case of social conditions: widows, divorces, Childless, separated from family must be given priority in a gradual manner.

(E) Ownership of land: Landless person has to give priority. In this case, if a person has a land area of ​​less than 1.5 acres or less than a dwelling, he will be considered landless.

Eligibility and conditions for receiving allowance:

(1) Must be a permanent resident of the respective area;

(2) Must have birth registration / national identity number;

(3) Age should be at least 65 years for males and for females at least 62 years. The age fixed by the Government from time to time must be taken into consideration;

(4) Annual average income of the candidate should be Tk. 10000.00

(5)The selection must be made by the committee.

Ineligibility to receive allowance:

(1) If a public servant is a pensioner;

(2) Holds VGD card as a distressed woman;

(3) Receives regular government grant / allowance in another way;

(4) Regularly receives financial grant/allowance from a non-governmental organization / social welfare organization.