Allowance appliers are subject to financial check

People applying for basic living allowances are subject to a financial check by an official verification system starting this year, Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau said yesterday.

The same system has verified the economic backgrounds of those who applied for low-rent apartments or budget housing. The system will double-check an applicant's income and assets, including real estate property, bank savings, and financial assets.

The bureau said about 24 percent of people applying for low-rent apartments and 9 percent of those for budget housing didn't pass the check, which showed that the system is working well.

At present, about 390,000 Shanghai residents receive basic living allowances, accounting for 3 to 4 percentage of the registered population. The verification system can ensure fair distribution of public resources, the bureau said.