The Legislature has passed amendments that would raise the monthly allowance
for senior farmers from just over 8,000 NT to 15,000 NT ... while easing
eligibility requirements.

The changes would take effect retroactively from July 1.

The amendments also introduce a mechanism to review the allowance every two
years based on cost-of-living changes.

The Cabinet approved its own version of the amendments in January, proposing
10,000 NT as the new allowance.

The KMT and TPP jointly proposed the steeper increase, citing the need to
keep pace with inflation.

DPP caucus deputy whip Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), said the Cabinet version was a more
fiscally responsible approach that would have also expanded eligibility and
introduced inflation-based adjustments.

She said higher payments could require additional borrowing and divert
funding from other public spending.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the 5,000-NT difference between the
executive and legislative versions amounts to 32 billion NT in annual
spending.

CNA_JvW