The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance recently jointly issued the "Interim Measures for the Sickness and Disability Allowance of Enterprise Employees' Basic Pension Insurance" (hereinafter referred to as the "Interim Measures"), which clarifies that from January 1, 2025, before reaching the statutory retirement age, if the insured persons of enterprise employees' basic pension insurance have been identified as completely unable to work due to illness or non work related disability, they can apply for monthly disability allowance, and the required funds will be paid by the basic pension insurance fund. The Interim Measures propose that the monthly standard and payment period for disability allowance shall be determined based on the age and cumulative payment years of insured persons when applying for disability allowance. The monthly standard for disability allowance will be adjusted synchronously with the national unified adjustment of the basic pension level. According to the Interim Measures, insured persons who receive disability allowances shall determine the place of receiving the benefits in accordance with relevant regulations on the transfer and continuation of national basic pension insurance relationships. During the period of receiving disability allowance, basic pension insurance premiums will no longer be paid. For those who continue to work and pay according to national regulations, the disability allowance will be suspended from the month after the resumption of payment. The "Interim Measures" require that applicants for disability allowances should hold a complete loss of labor capacity appraisal conclusion issued by a labor capacity appraisal institution at or above the prefecture level (district level city) where the benefits are received or the last insured place. Provincial human resources and social security departments shall establish a system for re examination and appraisal of the labor ability of recipients of disability allowances. If the re examination and appraisal do not meet the criteria for complete loss of labor ability, the disability allowance shall be suspended from the following month after the re examination and appraisal conclusion is made. Those who obtain disability allowances through fraud, forgery of proof materials, or other means shall be ordered by the human resources and social security administrative department to return them, and relevant personnel shall be held accountable in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. (New Society)