After obtaining the disability certificate, visit the county-level civil affairs bureau to ask about all available benefits at once

7. After obtaining the disability certificate, visit the county-level civil affairs bureau to ask about all available benefits at once

Cost: No cost involved. Just make one trip to the county-level civil affairs bureau and spend a morning asking questions. You’ll need to visit multiple agencies later on.

In plain terms: The disability certificate itself does not provide any financial support — it simply serves as a key to unlock other benefits. Numerous separate benefits are tied to it, each requiring a separate application; none are granted automatically. Visiting the civil affairs bureau once and asking about every item on the list saves you from having to make multiple trips later.

Benefit: At least six distinct benefits can be accessed via the certificate, each governed by its own regulations. First, there are the living allowance for low-income disabled individuals and the nursing care subsidy for severely disabled persons, as detailed in Section 7, Item 8. Second, rehabilitation assistance for disabled children is covered under the same section. Third, subsidies for basic assistive devices are provided under Article 26 of the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation for Disabled Persons. Fourth, grants for home modifications to improve accessibility are outlined in Section 9. Fifth, preferential employment opportunities and related services are available to certificate holders, as explained in Section 10. Sixth, a reduction in personal income tax applies, as described in Section 11. Article 26 further states that the state offers basic rehabilitation services to low-income and severely disabled persons through targeted programs, alongside subsidies for basic assistive devices. Article 20 mandates that local authorities and civil affairs bureaus establish community-based rehabilitation centers or contract services to provide guidance, daily living training, nursing care, device provision, and information support (effective July 1, 2017 nationwide).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: State Council of China (2017). Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (Article 20, Article 26). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2017-02/27/content_5171308.htm>

Notes: The application process for the disability certificate itself is described in Section 24, Item 11. Most subsidy amounts and implementation rules are determined at the provincial level, so the same benefit may vary significantly between provinces. Be sure to write down each benefit name during your visit, then verify the exact regulations on the local civil affairs bureau’s website and government portals. Do not rely solely on verbal explanations at the counter. Expect that not all details will be covered in one visit; returning annually is advisable, as policies frequently change.