Social Assistance Scheme

社会救助

Coverage

Persons residing in China who cannot sufficiently cover their necessary subsistence from income/assets.

Financing

Administration

The subsistence level and the methods for determining the income/assets status are decided by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government or municipalities divided into districts.
The standard of benefits for persons in extreme poverty are decided by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government or municipalities divided into districts.
The governments of the township and the subdistrict offices review applications, investigate and verify the income/assets status of the applicant’s family and provide preliminary opinions on eligibility.
The civil affairs department of the governments of the county decide on eligibility.
The civil affairs department of the governments of the county pays out the benefits for members living in the family eligible for minimum living allowance.
The governments of the township and the subdistrict offices provide benefits for persons in extreme poverty.

Qualifying Conditions

Persons residing in China.
Qualifying conditions vary for different social assistance measures.
Minimum living allowance: members living in the family, of which the per capita income/assets is below the subsistence level as defined by the governments.
Benefits for persons in extreme poverty: elderly or disabled persons, and minors under the age of 16 who are incapable of working and have no other source of income; the applicant must not be able to receive (sufficient) maintenance from other family members who are legally obliged to provide financial support.
Benefits for specific one-time needs: members living in the family eligible for minimum living allowance or persons in extreme poverty.
Benefits for temporary needs: families that temporarily suffer serious difficulties in basic life due to accidents (fires, traffic accidents, sudden serious illnesses of family members) or a sudden increase in basic living expenses beyond the family’s ability to afford.

Benefits

Minimum living allowance: monthly benefits equal to the amounts of the subsistence level (decided by the governments) minus the per capita income of the family; benefits are granted as long as qualifying conditions persist.
Benefits for persons in extreme poverty: benefits providing basic living conditions, taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves, providing treatment against diseases, handling funeral matters; benefit amounts, duration and type (monetary or in-kind) are decided by the governments.
Benefits for specific one-time needs (needs related to healthcare, education, housing or job hunting): amounts decided by the governments.
Benefits for temporary needs: amounts decided by the governments.
Benefits are not subject to income tax.

Coverage

Financing

Administration

Qualifying Conditions

Benefits

Persons residing in China who cannot sufficiently cover their necessary subsistence from income/assets.

The subsistence level and the methods for determining the income/assets status are decided by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government or municipalities divided into districts.
The standard of benefits for persons in extreme poverty are decided by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government or municipalities divided into districts.
The governments of the township and the subdistrict offices review applications, investigate and verify the income/assets status of the applicant’s family and provide preliminary opinions on eligibility.
The civil affairs department of the governments of the county decide on eligibility.
The civil affairs department of the governments of the county pays out the benefits for members living in the family eligible for minimum living allowance.
The governments of the township and the subdistrict offices provide benefits for persons in extreme poverty.

Persons residing in China.
Qualifying conditions vary for different social assistance measures.
Minimum living allowance: members living in the family, of which the per capita income/assets is below the subsistence level as defined by the governments.
Benefits for persons in extreme poverty: elderly or disabled persons, and minors under the age of 16 who are incapable of working and have no other source of income; the applicant must not be able to receive (sufficient) maintenance from other family members who are legally obliged to provide financial support.
Benefits for specific one-time needs: members living in the family eligible for minimum living allowance or persons in extreme poverty.
Benefits for temporary needs: families that temporarily suffer serious difficulties in basic life due to accidents (fires, traffic accidents, sudden serious illnesses of family members) or a sudden increase in basic living expenses beyond the family’s ability to afford.

Minimum living allowance: monthly benefits equal to the amounts of the subsistence level (decided by the governments) minus the per capita income of the family; benefits are granted as long as qualifying conditions persist.
Benefits for persons in extreme poverty: benefits providing basic living conditions, taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves, providing treatment against diseases, handling funeral matters; benefit amounts, duration and type (monetary or in-kind) are decided by the governments.
Benefits for specific one-time needs (needs related to healthcare, education, housing or job hunting): amounts decided by the governments.
Benefits for temporary needs: amounts decided by the governments.
Benefits are not subject to income tax.

Legal Basis: Interim Measures for Social Assistance (社会救助暂行办法); Individual Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国个人所得税法).