Ministry of Civil Affairs: No household registration restrictions for elderly care service subsidies; all eligible seniors can apply.

On March 24, the Ministry of Civil Affairs held a special press conference to introduce the progress of the elderly care service consumption subsidy program.

Li Banghua, Director of the Department of Elderly Care Services at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, stated that the elderly care service consumption subsidy program for seniors with moderate or higher levels of disability is based on the level of disability, changing the previous subsidy approach that primarily relied on economic status. Currently, the consumption vouchers are issued electronically on a monthly basis, with the policy in effect until December 2026.

According to information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, at the end of December last year, the General Office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the General Office of the Ministry of Finance issued the “Notice on Fully Launching the Implementation of the Elderly Care Service Consumption Subsidy Program for Seniors with Moderate or Higher Disabilities,” which outlined the overall deployment of the project.

At the press conference, Li Banghua explained the specific regulations regarding eligibility, disability assessment, voucher use, and related support measures.

First, regarding eligibility, the subsidy is available to seniors assessed as having moderate, severe, or complete disability levels. Those currently receiving assistance such as special hardship support or concentrated care services for financially distressed seniors are not included. Eligibility is a concern for many seniors and their families. This policy removes household registration restrictions, allowing all qualifying seniors nationwide to apply directly in their current residence. Seniors with moderate or higher disability living in mainland China who hold residence permits for Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan can also enjoy the policy equally. Additionally, the policy can be combined with long-term care insurance; seniors already receiving long-term care benefits can deduct related expenses, and their out-of-pocket costs for elderly care services can still be offset with vouchers.

Second, on disability assessment, the policy aims to reduce assessment costs for seniors. Starting from July 2024, seniors who have already been assessed and confirmed to have moderate or higher disability do not need to undergo re-assessment; their assessment results recognized by civil affairs authorities are sufficient for application. For new assessments, if the result indicates moderate or higher disability, the senior can use assessment vouchers to offset up to 100 yuan of costs. The Ministry of Civil Affairs actively guides local authorities to strengthen the cultivation and management of assessment agencies and to conduct professional training to ensure objective and accurate results.

Third, regarding voucher use, no cash will be issued; instead, electronic discount coupons will be provided to offset elderly care service costs. The offset rates are divided into two categories: 40% for institutional elderly care services and 50% for community-based home care services, with a maximum of 800 yuan per person per month for each category. Eligible services include home visits, institutional care, respite services, and day care services. If home caregivers are affiliated with elderly care institutions or qualified domestic service agencies, they can also be offset. Vouchers are issued based on prefecture-level cities; seniors living across cities can simply update their residence address on the platform to receive new vouchers.

Fourth, on application channels and subsequent management, vouchers are uniformly applied for through the Ministry of Civil Affairs’ “Minzhengtong” app. Seniors or their representatives can follow the instructions on the platform’s dedicated page. Currently, one representative can handle related affairs for up to 12 seniors. To address issues such as seniors not being familiar with smartphone use or complicated system operations, the Ministry of Civil Affairs is continuously optimizing the “Minzhengtong” app for better accessibility, improving the application process, and enhancing convenience.

Li Banghua reminded that since policies may vary slightly across regions, seniors and their families are advised to consult local civil affairs departments and elderly care service providers for specific procedures. The “Minzhengtong” app and the national elderly care service information platform will also promptly release relevant information.

Report by Liu Lu, The Paper