Job Discussion Forums

[sillycow]

Has anyone had to deal with the specifics for the special housing allowance?

If I arrive in Hong Kong 2 or 3 months prior to the start of the August term, does this count as me not living continuously for 5 years outside of Hong Kong?
(this criteria seems easier to satisfy than filling out forms showing my social ties are outside hong kong)
Does holding a permanent resident Hong Kong Identity card preclude one from being eligible for this allowance?

Does getting married to a HK resident during a contract affect the eligibility also?


Thanks to anyone who can shed some light!

[hkteach]

The special allowance is granted to those whose permanent home/family and social ties are outside Hong Kong.
This is fairly easy to establish - e.g. where you have lived most of your life/the location of the university or college you attended/your family's residence/your social ties.
Generally, if you attended a univeristy outside HK and your family ties are outside HK, you'll qualify for the allowance.
You won't qualify if your family is in HK and you've lived here most of your life but went to another country to get your degree and then returned.
If you're coming to HK a couple of months before taking up a NET position, that doesn't alter things if you qualify under the above.

There are quite a few NETs who have HK residency as they've been here for the required 7 years. These people still receive their special allowance, presumably because their family ties are outside HK.

I'm not sure of the answer to your last question about marrying a HK resident but I think it depends on whether your spouse receives a housing allowance from his/her employer. If he/she receives either free housing or an allowance, you're in breach of contract if you claim special allowance from EdB.

[sillycow]

Thanks for the info hkteach!
It's important that I qualify for the allowance otherwise it wouldn't be financially viable for me to pursue this course of employment!

[Horizontal Hero]

[anninhk]

I don't want to put a dent in your confidence but the recruitment process for a NET teacher can be a long and arduous process and as you have already pointed out that you don't have all the necessary experience you will find that jobs are offered to the better qualified people first. Some people wait a year from acceptance by the NET scheme for an actual job placement.
It sounds as if you are coming to Hong Kong anyway so maybe you will also have to consider some other form of employment in the interim. Once here however you will be better placed and may even be able to find your own NET job. You will need to be careful however to make sure the job is part of the government NET scheme or you won't get the housing allowance.
If you need more specific information about the PNET scheme you can look at hkpnets.org and go to the forum there to read accounts from others about the recruitment process.

[kowlooner]

Actually, why would it not be financially viable for you to pursue this course of employment without the allowance?

[sillycow]

Hi everyone

Horizontal Hero: thanks for the tip!

anninhk: Thanks for your advice, and I know that i'm probably getting my hopes up a bit! I tend to get over excited, forget the part where I have to be offered a job first
i found the hpnet site and browsed through that last night, so I got an idea of the job situation. i suppose I have my heart set on the job because I want a career change and i'm prepared to work in hong kong while I wait. The only problem is, I'm worried that I wouldn't qualify for the allowance if I had to wait a length of time living in Hong Kong before being offered a position.

kowlooner, taking a lower paid job would not be feasible for me due to financial commitments. I need a career which will not pay less (or not much less) than what I could earn currently, so unfortunately my options are limited [/b]

[kowlooner]

Okay, fair enough. Sounds like some serious loans that need to be paid off! Best of luck with the NET job hunt!

[sillycow]

Thanks, i think i'm going to need it!

[naturegirl321]

[Smoog]

[Smoog]

[sillycow]

Thanks for everyones input before, my plan of action now is as follows:

i'm going to get my TESOL first, then move to Hong Kong, work for a bit, THEN apply for 08/09 intake of NET teacher positions.

I was trying to fill my form out for this year but since I haven't even started my TESOL cert. yet, I seemed to be ridiculously underqualified (re: "teaching qualifications" and "years of experience"were empty) and I have no references at all from any schools or teachers. Even if I get an interview, I haven't even stepped into a classroom, so my chances of passing are slim.

So, hopefully next year when I go to fill out my form i'll have a bit more to back up my application!.

[11:59]