China plans nationwide benefit for the disabled

China's cabinet is planning a nationwide program to provide the country's disabled people with daily necessities and rehabilitation from next year.

"Living allowances for disabled people in need and subsidies to cover treatment and rehabilitation of the severely disabled will be fully implemented on January 1, 2016," said a document released Friday by the State Council.

While many provincial level regions offer their own financial support to the disabled, the plan is the country's first nationwide benefit program and will cover an estimated 20 million people.

According to the document, subsidies are to be determined by provincial level governments based on "local economic and social development levels as well as the demands of beneficiaries" and can be adjusted accordingly with the cabinet's guidance.

Currently, most regions where the program is being tried out adopt a standard of 50 yuan (7.85 U.S. dollars) or 100 yuan every month for each person, but the figure can surpass 700 yuan in expensive cities like Shanghai.

Despite specific application requirements and procedures, better developed regions were encouraged to lower the thresholds and include more disabled people as beneficiaries.

China has about 80 million people with physical or mental disabilities.