Changhua's 'Evergreen Happiness Card' has over 90% uptake, but most go unused, becoming 'waste cards'

In Changhua County, Taiwan, a welfare initiative designed to benefit seniors is facing a peculiar problem: a high uptake but low usage rate. The "Evergreen Happiness Card," intended for residents aged 65 and above, boasts a持卡率 (cardholder rate) exceeding 90%. However, a significant number of these cards are reportedly going unused, earning them the moniker "waste cards." County statistics show that out of over 250,000 residents aged 65 and older, approximately 227,000 hold the card. This translates to a 90.5%持卡率. The card provides a monthly allowance of NT$1,000, which can be used for various services including public transportation, medical co-payments, and tourism. Despite the generous annual potential of NT$12,000, unused funds expire at the end of each month, leading to a significant portion of the NT$170 million annual budget for the program not being fully utilized. To address this issue and ensure the card's benefits are realized, the Changhua County Government is expanding its scope. Starting in August, cardholders will be able to use their allowance at national sports centers. In October, the program will further extend to include purchases at contracted agricultural and fishery cooperatives. These additions aim to encourage seniors to utilize the card more frequently and for a wider range of activities. The "Evergreen Happiness Card" is a successor to the "Sunshine E-Tour Card," which was launched in January 2009. Initially, it covered transportation and medical expenses for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and indigenous people aged 55 and above. The expansion to include sports and local consumption aims to make the card a more integral part of seniors' daily lives, encouraging them to be more active and engaged within the community.