Apply for dibao if your household income falls below the local threshold

There are no fees. Household members living together must submit a written application to the local township government or subdistrict office where the hukou is registered. If handling it yourself proves difficult, you may ask the villagers' committee or residents' committee to assist. Your household’s income and assets will be verified. Typically, you’ll need to make two to three trips, bringing along ID cards, hukou documents, and proof of income and assets. The main challenges are disclosing all your financial details for inspection and waiting for the public notice period to end.

Households whose per-capita income remains below the local dibao standard and whose assets comply with regulations are entitled to dibao payments. In late 2024, the average monthly dibao amount stood at 798.1 yuan per person in urban areas and 593.9 yuan per person in rural areas. Approximately 6.25 million urban residents and 33.615 million rural residents receive dibao benefits. The standard is set by multiplying the previous year’s per-capita consumer spending in the area by a fixed percentage, with periodic adjustments. In essence, it reflects how much residents typically spend per person in a given region (this figure varies by location across the country).

国务院 (2014, 2019 修订). 社会救助暂行办法（国务院令第 649 号，第九、十、十一条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5468952.htm；国家统计局 (2025). 社会事业向好发展 民生福祉不断增进——「十四五」以来社会民生统计报告. https://www.gov.cn/lianbo/bumen/202509/content_7042627.htm；民政部等四部门 (2024). 关于进一步做好最低生活保障标准确定调整工作的指导意见（民发〔2024〕16 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_7007237.htm

Dibao serves as a final safety net; applications must be filed at your hukou location. Exceeding local asset limits or having children able to support you may result in a denial. Once approved, additional perks follow: financial assistance is available for basic medical insurance (see Item 9 for details), medical aid can be accessed (see Item 10), and legal aid is granted regardless of financial status (see Item 3).