Social Assistance Law of the People's Republic of China.

This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution for the purposes of safeguarding the subsistence of citizens, sharing the outcomes of reform and development among the people, improving the social assistance system, promoting social equity, maintaining social harmony and stability, and fulfilling the principle of serving the people. The Law consists of 78 Articles divided into 7 Chapters: General Provisions (I); Assistance Recipients and Measures (II); Assistance Procedures(III); Participation of Nongovernmental Actors (IV); Assistance Supervision and Safeguards (V); Legal Liability (VI); Supplementary Provisions (VII).
The Law affirms guiding principles including the leadership of the Communist Party of China, a people-centered approach, urban-rural coordination, means- and capacity-sensitive provision, basic guarantees and bottom-line protection, emergency and targeted assistance, linkage with other social security schemes, and procedural principles of openness, fairness, timeliness and convenience. It defines social assistance as a state-led system to protect in accordance with the law the rights of citizens to obtain material assistance and assistance services from the state and society, guided by principles of fairness, transparency, and sustainability. It also outlines a governance structure involving government leadership, interdepartmental coordination, and participation by social organizations, while emphasizing information protection and the modernization of assistance systems through digitalization.
The Law specifies eligible groups, including extremely poor individuals, low-income households, disaster victims, and persons facing urgent or temporary hardship. It introduces a tiered and categorized assistance system comprising basic living support, specialized assistance (such as medical, educational, housing, and employment aid), and emergency relief. Detailed provisions define standards, eligibility criteria, and forms of support, with local governments empowered to adjust thresholds and implement context-specific measures.
Procedural rules govern application, verification, approval, and dynamic management of assistance, supported by inter-agency data sharing and streamlined service mechanisms. The Law also promotes participation by social actors, strengthens supervision through transparency and auditing, and establishes legal liabilities for misconduct, including fraud or misuse of funds.