China to boost social assistance for vulnerable groups during Spring Festival holiday

The Chinese government has rolled out enhanced social assistance measures to ensure vulnerable groups receive support during the Spring Festival holiday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on Thursday.

Zhang Wei, deputy director of the ministry's social assistance department, outlined a multipronged plan at a news conference on Thursday, involving timely subsistence allowances, expanded heating subsidies, and streamlined aid procedures.

"We are ensuring that all eligible applicants are included in the assistance scope promptly, and that assistance funds are distributed fully and on time," he said.

"Local governments are streamlining the processes for reviewing, approving, and disbursing funds to people who are newly applying for assistance during the holiday," he added.

More than 141 billion yuan ($20 billion) in central funds has been allocated in advance for social assistance programs this year. Several provincial-level regions, including Beijing and Shanghai, have begun distributing subsidies to people in need in the form of cash, consumption vouchers, and goods.

Authorities are strengthening monitoring to quickly identify those in need. "We are using a combination of data platforms and field visits to monitor vulnerable groups, ensuring that help reaches them on time," Zhang said.

He noted that a network of social assistance hotlines remains operational during the holiday.

During the holiday, civil affairs staff members will visit vulnerable groups, especially elderly individuals living alone, people with severe disabilities, and those with serious illnesses, to offer tailored support, he added.

In addition, several provinces have expanded heating aid to include families on the edge of subsistence allowances and those struggling with inflexible expenditures.