By Wang Liejun, Research Department of Social Development, DRC

Research Report, Special Issue, No 16, 2016 (Total NO 1491) 2016-4-25

Abstract: Since the 1990s, China has gradually formulated a social relief and assistance system underpinned by minimum living allowances and provisions to destitute people as well as special assistance schemes for medical care, education, housing and employment. This system has gradually taken shape in the course of market-oriented reform. Social assistance programs were set up one by one according to social demand and requirement, some were provided in cities first such as minimum living allowances and housing assistance, while some others were offered in rural areas first such as medical assistance and educational assistance. Minimum living allowances is the core of the system intended to secure basic income and is bolstered by relatively stable assistance items and forms. The items and forms of social assistance for medical care, education and housing vary with institutional arrangements in different fields, especially with the cost distribution mechanism. The introduction of the Interim Methods for Social Relief and Assistance in 2014 indicates that China's social relief and assistance efforts have become legalized and the framework of China's social relief and assistance system will be further improved.

Key words: social relief and assistance system, minimum living allowances, process, characteristics