At an executive meeting of members of China's State Council, chaired by China's premier Wen Jiabao on Jan 19, it was decided that a one-off subsistence allowance would be paid to individuals that have been officially identified as in financial difficulty. Both the rural and urban poor will receive the cash payment of between 100 and 180 yuan before the coming Chinese New Year in early February.

More that 86 million people will receive a portion of the total 10.4 billion yuan in cash payments funded from central government coffers. Poor urban residents will recieve a cash payment of 150 yuan, while the rural poor will each receive 100 yuan in cash. Others, including those who joined the Communist Party of China before 1949, will receive a one-off payment of 180 yuan.

Source
Central Government Website: 國務院常務會決定春節前為困難群眾發放生活補貼