China raises allowances for bereaved parents of only children

Chinese authorities announced on Thursday they would increase government allowances and better take care of bereaved parents of only children.

Starting in 2014, an urban couple that loses their only child after the wife has reached 49 years of age will receive an allowance of 340 yuan (56 US dollars) for each parent every month, while bereaved parents in rural areas will receive 170 yuan per person, according to a statement issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC).

According to the NHFPC statement, the latest circular issued by the commission and four other central government authorities required enhanced support for families that had practiced the country's family planning policy but face difficulties after losing their only children.

Parents in urban and rural areas whose only children become disabled will receive a monthly allowance of 270 yuan and 150 yuan, respectively, the statement said.

The statement said the allowances will also be increased in the future.

China launched the assistance system in 2008 to aid families whose only children had died or become disabled, with subsidies for each parent of no less than 100 yuan and 80 yuan, respectively, Wang Haidong, a senior official of the NHFPC in charge of family planning affairs, told Xinhua.

The standard was increased in 2012 to 135 yuan for parents whose children had died and 110 yuan for those whose children had become disabled, the official said.

Wang said an official sample survey conducted last year in 15 Chinese provincial-level regions revealed that despite the country's assistance measures, bereaved families said they still suffer from difficulties in livelihood, eldercare and medical services, as well as mental suffering.

About 80 percent said they worry about their elderly care, Wang said.

According to Wang, the assistance program covered 671,000 people this year, including 407,000 whose only children died.

In the circular, authorities also pledged to provide subsidies for the families' pension schemes and medicare insurance, as well as favorable conditions for their access to eldercare services, affordable housing programs and child adoption.