Hey fam! Big news for families in the Chinese mainland: the nationwide childcare subsidy program is now open for applications 🎉
Here’s the scoop:
- What’s on offer: 3,600 yuan per year for each child under three 👶💰
- Who’s eligible: families with little ones under three
- How to apply: via Alipay, WeChat, or at your local office 📲
- Start date: effective Jan 1, 2025 🗓️
This move aims to ease the crunch for more than 20 million families each year. According to Hu Qiangqiang, spokesperson for the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Finance has set aside 90 billion yuan from the central budget to roll out these payments.
Why now? The Chinese mainland faces a dip in birth rates after seven years of decline and a rapidly aging population—310 million people aged 60+ by year-end 2024. It’s part of a broader shift: ending the one-child policy in 2016, green-lighting a second child, then a third in 2021.
Local pilots in cities like Hohhot and Shenyang tested similar support before the policy went national in the March 2025 work report. Now it’s your turn!
If you’re caring for little ones in the Chinese mainland, mark your calendar for Jan 1, 2025, and get ready to apply for some extra family funds 😎
Reference(s):
China's nationwide childcare subsidy program opens for applications
cgtn.com
