Government and Policy

National standard allowance for over 80s soon

By Jia Xu (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-08 16:46

China will soon implement a standard nationwide allowance policy for those aged over 80, according to a China Economic Weekly report Tuesday citing the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The move aims to a set a national standard to end the disparity suffered by the elderly in different parts of the country.

At present, only six major regions at the provincial level distribute a monthly allowance for its citizens over 80, the ministry said. These are Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai municipalities, Heilongjiang, Yunnan provinces and Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

"Some of the provinces lowered the age standard accordingly with their own situation," said Wang Zhenyao, director of the social welfare and charity promotion department under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Another 21 cities also do this at prefecture-level, and 11 out of which grant monthly allowances to their over 80s, but this has not happened at a provincial level, according to the ministry's report.

In light of the recent deaths of the elderly in An'hui province and Beijing where two elderly ladies in their eighties died from hunger helplessly at home, the ministry moved to set a standard policy to ensure regular and timely allowance distribution for elderly people.