Aid for bereaved elders

The Beijing municipal government's new draft policy on improving social welfare for senior citizens proposes that those who have lost their only child should be covered by government welfare, the Beijing Times reported.

According to government statistics, there are about 8,000 households in Beijing bereaved of an only child. Although the civil affairs department will pay them a monthly subsidy of 200 yuan ($32) per person, there is currently no specialized welfare policy for them, as there is for low-income seniors and those of advanced age. Specific measures to help this population are under review.