Recently, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Implementation Plan for the Parenting Subsidy System", which clarifies that from January 1, 2025, regardless of the first, second, or third child, they can receive a subsidy of 3600 yuan per year until they reach the age of 3. This policy is the first large-scale, inclusive, and direct cash subsidy for people's livelihood security issued to the masses since the founding of the People's Republic of China. At the press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the 30th, relevant department heads made authoritative responses to hot topics of public concern. How to receive subsidies? One of the most concerning issues for the public is how to apply for childcare subsidies, which will be gradually opened in late August. Wang Haidong, Director of the Population and Family Department of the National Health Commission, introduced that the country and various regions have completed the construction of the parenting subsidy information management system and are currently conducting full process testing. Organizations in various regions are equipped with working forces to provide professional training for grassroots staff. According to the work plan, various regions will gradually open up the application for childcare subsidies in late August, and fully open the application for childcare subsidies before August 31st. Where can I apply for childcare subsidies? Wang Haidong said that the application for child care subsidies was mainly made through the national unified information management system for child care subsidies. Special areas for child care subsidies were set up relying on local provincial government service platforms. At the same time, the application entrance was opened on third-party service platforms such as Alipay and WeChat. The public can conveniently apply for childcare subsidies online through multiple channels using mobile phones, achieving "no need to go out, easy access, and effortless processing". At the same time, offline processing channels and manual services have been reserved. For those who cannot apply online due to special reasons, they can go to the towns and streets where the registered residence of infants is located. You can choose your own processing channel according to your actual situation. What documents are required for application? Wang Haidong said, "We will streamline the application materials to the maximum extent possible." The parenting subsidy information management system has established an information sharing mechanism with departments such as public security, civil affairs, human resources, and social security to achieve big data comparison and verification. When applying, only necessary materials such as birth medical certificates and household registration books to prove the identity and custody relationship of infants and young children need to be submitted. Why cover one child? One child families are the mainstay of parenting families. Previously, some places in China explored issuing parenting subsidies, mostly only for second and third children. This time, the national parenting subsidy system includes one child in the subsidy scope, which has attracted attention. Wang Haidong said that this adjustment is based on two considerations: on the one hand, one child families are the mainstay of parenting families. More than half of the annual births in our country are first child, and including the first child in the subsidy scope can achieve wide coverage of the parenting subsidy system and fully benefit parenting families; On the other hand, childbirth is a major matter for a family. Having a first child is the starting point and foundation of family reproduction, and it is also a crucial stage that requires special support. Providing childcare subsidies for a first child can improve the family's experience of childbirth, alleviate the pressure of raising children, and also benefit the family's consideration of reproduction. Guo Yanhong, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission, said that childcare subsidies are one of the components of the fertility support policy system. In recent years, the country has accelerated the improvement of the maternity support policy system and made positive progress by expanding the coverage of maternity insurance, extending maternity leave to 158 days or more, establishing parental leave, and increasing the supply of universal childcare services. It is reported that in the next step, the National Health Commission will work with relevant departments to ensure that existing policies are implemented and effective. At the same time, we will strengthen forward-looking research and policy reserves, continuously enrich and improve the toolbox of fertility support policies, further reduce the burden of family fertility education, and promote the construction of a fertility friendly society. Where does the money come from? The central government bears about 90% of the burden as a long-term livelihood policy, and stable financial support for childcare subsidies is crucial. Guo Yang, Director of the Social Security Department of the Ministry of Finance, said that according to the deployment, the central government will establish a joint financial power transfer payment project called "Childcare Subsidy Fund", with a preliminary budget of about 90 billion yuan this year. For the funds required to distribute national basic standard subsidies, the central government provides subsidies to local governments according to a certain proportion, and the central government bears about 90% of the overall burden. In the near future, the Ministry of Finance will also work with the National Health Commission to issue the Management Measures for Childcare Subsidy Funds, clarifying specific requirements for fund allocation, use, and management supervision, and refining and standardizing the process of fund allocation. The two departments will implement full process budget performance management for subsidy funds, carry out performance monitoring and evaluation, and ensure the effective management and utilization of financial funds. The plan stipulates that childcare subsidies issued in accordance with institutional regulations are exempt from personal income tax; When identifying assistance recipients such as those receiving the minimum living allowance and those in extreme poverty, childcare subsidies are not included in family or personal income. Previously, the government had introduced a special additional deduction policy for personal income tax on the care of infants and young children under the age of 3, with a deduction standard of 2000 yuan per child per month. These policies, in conjunction with the childcare subsidy system, will play a comprehensive role in reducing the cost of family childbirth and upbringing. ”Guo Yang said. (New Society)