Digital social security card allows holders to receive convenient online services

Two Communist Party of China members working as volunteers to register a social security card for Lin Xincheng, a resident in Beichuan village, Huzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, at his home, Nov. 11, 2019. (Photo by Tan Yunfeng/People’s Daily Online)

As of Nov. 20, over 300 million Chinese citizens had already applied for and received the digital social security card. The number surpassed 100 million by the end of January and 200 million by the end of June this year.

That means over 20 percent of Chinese people have access to convenient employment and other social security services online.

In China, 417 digital social security card service channels have been opened, and the online services can be easily obtained through commonly used apps or mini-programs. The e-card that allows direct access to such services will make holders’ life easier and more convenient.

For example, digital social security card mobile payment has been supported in 224 prefectures and cities in 27 provinces for medical treatment and drug purchase settlement. 22 cities have set up UnionPay travel codes, allowing citizens to use electronic social security cards for travel.

A staff member guides a citizen through making social security contributions online at the government service center in Huai'an, east China’s Jiangsu province, May 25. (Photo by Wang Hao/People’s Daily Online)

Among 300 million holders of digital social security cards, the youngest is a 1-month-old baby while the eldest is a 118-year-old senior. So far, 7.75 million elderly people and children can enjoy online social security services through their digital social security cards, with their family members helping apply for and receive the e-card on behalf of them.

All prefectures and cities across China, from Jiamusi city and Daxing'anling prefecture in northeast China to Sansha in south China and Kizilsu Kyrgyz autonomous prefecture in northwest China, have provided digital social security services.

The number of internet users in China had reached 940 million as of June this year, and 99.2 percent of them used mobile phones to surf the internet, according to a report on China’s internet development.

In this regard, digital social security cards based on mobile phones are an inevitable choice to meet the requirements of the internet era. It is estimated that more than 500 million people will have digital social security cards in 2021.

Zeng Zhaozhong (front right), a 67-year-old citizen, authenticates his social security card by scanning a QR code with the help of a staff member at the government service center in Jizhou district, Ji’an, east China’s Jiangxi province, Apr. 3, 2019. (Photo by Guo Yuwen/People’s Daily Online)

E-card holders can get many things done by showing their e-cards, scanning the QR code of the e-card, or having their faces scanned at government service centers. They can also log into their social security accounts by scanning the QR code on a self-service machine or an online service platform.

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security aims to improve IT-based social security services in about two years. Specifically, full services and functions of the e-card will be available, including the holders’ identity-based service access, making social security contributions, receiving allowances, and work-related injury insurance settlement.

The ministry will also include matters that can be handled via one website and other matters that can be handled online into the digital social security card, so that citizens can access services anytime and anywhere.