I used to drive trishaws and my wife rolled cheroots in the past. We went through our lives doing various odd jobs. We married only when we were around our 40s. We don’t have any children, probably because we married late. This house we have been living in and the compound have already been donated to the monastery and the retreat. We have donated all own valuable things, so our relatives will not argue over our belongings after we’re gone. Our monthly expenditures depend mainly on the medicines. For our meals, the good neighbors help out by handing out some dishes and that is not a problem.
When we started to apply for the social pension the ward administrator and the responsible persons came to our house and arranged everything including photographing and the necessary paperwork. We have got social pension for about three years now.
We spend the social pension to buy regular medications required. We don’t have any other income. At the last allotment, we received social pension 60,000 MMK combined for both of us, COVID extra allowance combined of 60,000 MMK and a 20,000 MMK COVID supplementary allowance for the indigent, in total 140,000 MMK. During our father’s time, once you became older, you were useless. Now it’s really nice to see that the State diligently acknowledges us, the older people, who were previously regarded as worthless. I feel overjoyed to be recognized by the State in giving that much extra cash when we are in need during COVID period.
Since we have neither children nor relatives nor have been government servants, when we get old there are no other income sources whatsoever. Before getting the social pension, we had to sell what few possessions we had. A pair of earrings and two bangles have been sold piece by piece and the money spent. A neck chain has also been sold, first in half and later what little was left. So we have nothing now. Now then, this regular social pension is of great help to us. I am quite healthy and need some tonics only. But my wife has a heart problem and needs to take both heart medicines and tonics. The medicines cost about 30,000 MMK a month for both of us. So we have to make do with the money from the social pension.
Funded by LIFT, HelpAge project is supporting the development and implementation of Myanmar's National Social Protection Strategic Plan as well as drafting Myanmar's proposed National Ageing Law and in cooperation with the Departement of Social Welfare.
