Han Ximin

THE city will set aside around 20 million yuan (US$2.82 million) annually starting this year to cover the medical insurance and pensions of disabled persons, according to a new insurance plan effective from April 1.

Around 59,400 disabled persons will benefit from the program, a conference of the city’s labor and social security bureau said yesterday.

“The subsidy will relieve the financial plight of disabled persons who were unable and unlikely to land a job for various reasons,” said Guan Lingen, chief of the bureau.

Disabled persons aged between 18 and 60 with certificates for disabled persons who are not employed in institutions and enterprises can apply for the subsidy.

Disabled persons who made a living conducting their own business were each eligible for a subsidy of 316 yuan per month in social insurance.

By 2006, only 212 disabled persons had started their own business, bureau sources said.

For those who became unemployed because of disability and were unable to work the 15-year minimum for a monthly pension, will be eligible for a subsidy of 2,317 yuan a year when they reach retirement age.

To encourage the employment of disabled persons, the city’s association for disable persons will recommend those with the ability and desire to work to be employed by enterprises and institutions. Those who register and are unable to find a job within a certain period of time, can apply to the association for a subsidy of 50 yuan a month. There are now around 20,000 disabled persons unemployed across the city, sources from the association said.

Those with a severe disability and not employed and whose families are not included in the city’s low-income subsidy program will be eligible for a subsidy of 316 yuan per month.