Safety net to secure vulnerable over festival

The Chinese government is launching a massive safety net to protect its most vulnerable citizens during Spring Festival and the peak of winter, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Enhanced social assistance is being rolled out to ensure vulnerable groups receive support during the holiday, the ministry said on Thursday.

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

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

He added that local governments are streamlining procedures for reviewing, approving and disbursing funds to people newly applying for assistance during the holiday.

More than 141 billion yuan ($20 billion) in central funds have 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 in a timely manner," Zhang said.

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

During the holiday, civil affairs staff will visit vulnerable groups, particularly elderly people living alone, people with severe disabilities and those with serious illnesses, to provide tailored support, he said.

The ministry has also strengthened its temporary social assistance system to provide faster support to vulnerable groups, including those affected by sudden financial difficulties and unemployed individuals.

Guidelines issued by the ministries of civil affairs and finance in December aim to make emergency aid more accessible and timely. Under the guidelines, families facing sudden and unaffordable increases in essential expenses such as education or medical costs will qualify for temporary assistance.

"Some people still face severe difficulties in maintaining basic living standards even after receiving support such as minimum living allowances and specialized assistance for education, medical care, housing and employment," Zhang said. "For these individuals, the guidelines call for timely temporary assistance and simplified review and approval procedures."

The policy also covers unemployed individuals without insurance, new graduates without jobs and people awaiting approval for other forms of aid.

In addition, several provinces have expanded heating assistance to include families on the margins of receiving subsistence allowances and those burdened by rigid expenditures.

Authorities have also activated a winter emergency response amid severe cold spells. Government teams are patrolling train stations, bridges, construction sites and underpasses to provide shelter, food and clothing to people exposed to the cold, according to the ministry.