Ministry of Agriculture: Agricultural Competition Prizes Do Not Affect Elderly Farmers' Allowance Eligibility

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, June 16) The Ministry of Agriculture has revised the 'Regulations for the Application and Disbursement of Welfare Allowances for Elderly Farmers.' The Ministry announced today that prize money from agricultural competitions is regarded as agricultural income and does not affect eligibility for the elderly farmers' allowance. This policy applies retroactively to those receiving the allowance starting January 1, 2024.

In a press release, the Ministry stated that it recently revised the 'Regulations for the Application and Disbursement of Welfare Allowances for Elderly Farmers,' clarifying that prize money awarded to farmers from agricultural competitions hosted or subsidized by government agencies, as well as additional prizes granted by related organizations for the same competition, shall be considered agricultural income. Such prize money will not be included in the income calculation under the means-testing rules for the elderly farmers' allowance.

The Ministry emphasized that this provision applies retroactively to recipients of the elderly farmers' allowance from January 1, 2024, preventing the loss of eligibility due to competition awards.

The Ministry noted that the government has long encouraged farmers to improve their skills and enhance industry competitiveness through agricultural competitions. However, some farmers previously lost their eligibility for the allowance because their annual income, including competition and additional prizes, exceeded the income threshold. Considering that competition prizes are incentives to promote agricultural development and recognize farmers' professional achievements, they should not negatively impact farmers' welfare benefits. Therefore, the relevant regulations have been reviewed and revised.

The Ministry reminded that prize money and additional awards from agricultural competitions organized or subsidized by government agencies are excluded from the income calculation for the elderly farmers' allowance, but such prizes must still be reported and subject to withholding tax according to the Income Tax Act and related regulations. It stressed that this does not mean the prizes are tax-exempt.

The Ministry stated that it will regularly provide data on farmers' awards reported by government agencies to the Labor Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Labor for review, eliminating the need for farmers to submit individual applications. Recipients who meet the criteria, with non-agricultural income below NT$500,000 after excluding competition prizes and without other disqualifying factors, will be eligible to receive the annual elderly farmers' allowance. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150616