Military personnel to get pension boost on Army Day

China will further increase pension allowances and subsidies for veterans, families of martyrs and other personnel who have served the country in dangerous jobs, which experts say will boost their social status.

Pension allowances for disabled soldiers, police officers, state officials, and militia members as well as for family members of martyrs and deceased soldiers will increase by 10 percent from China’s Army Day which falls on Wednesday, according to an announcement made jointly by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

Living subsidies for Red Army veterans will also be raised. Increased spending in this regard will be subsidized by central authorities, the announcement said, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Red Army is the forerunner of the People’s Liberation Army.

After the adjustment, yearly pension allowances for veterans disabled in war and in the line of duty will reach as much as 80,140 yuan ($11,780) and 77,610 yuan per person respectively.

Raising pension allowances for military personnel is to pay respects to heroes and to recognize their social status, Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday.

It doesn’t matter whether the veterans had never fought in a war, as they all made personal sacrifices and supported the nation and the people. Raising allowances for them is an important way to assure them that they are still revered by the public after they retire, Song said.

This is the 25th improvement of the disabled veterans’ pension system and the 28th improvement in pension standards for families of deceased soldiers and Red Army veterans since 1978.

An increase in the veterans’ pensions is usually made in October but this year’s notice comes two months early. The pension increases on Army Day demonstrates the affection and care that the Party and the government have for military personnel and veterans, observers said.