The Ministry of Civil Affairs disclosed recently that residents older than age 80 will receive a unified old-age allowance across China, a move indicating that the government has decided to end different allowances polices towards the elderly in different regions in 2010.

Aside from three metropolitan cities (Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjian), Ningxi Hui Autonomous Region is the only province to introduced a monthly elderly allowance for those beyond age 80, which is paid through a bank credit card.

Although it is a less-developed province in north-western China, Ningxia implemented its budget-funded old-age subsidy system throughout the province in May 2009, benefiting all rural elderly without means test as well as urban needy elderly who belong to low-income families and do not have any regular income. The monthly benefit ranges from CNY 300 for those aged 100 and above, to 130 per cent of the local minimum income guarantee standard (LMIG, a tax-financed and means-tested social assistance benefit) for those aged between 90 to 99, and 100 per cent of LMIG for those aged 80 to 89.

In Beijing, in addition to the old-age allowances (which vary in amount according to age and are disbursed in the form of old-age service coupons), more than 1.3 million residents aged 65 and above have also received an elderly card for preferential treatment, which allows them to take public transport, visit the 150 government-owned parks and enjoy some of the community recreational facilities free of charge. Some senior citizens have also been provided with free cell phones.

Source:

http://china.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-04/775446_2.html (in Chinese); http://shfl.mca.gov.cn/article/gdxx/20090900038139.shtml (in Chinese); http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/zwgk/gzdt/200909/20090900038489.shtml (in Chinese); http://www.mca.gov.cn/article/zwgk/fvfg/shfhshws/200906/20090610031777.shtml (in Chinese); http://chinadaily.cn/china/2010-04/13/content_9724307.htm (in English).

Publication date: 2010