The civil affairs bureau of Pingtan county is set to increase the local minimum living allowance, in a move to offer more support to vulnerable residents.

The Pingtan Times reported that the bureau confirmed the development?last Thursday, saying the monthly allowance for rural residents will increase from 150 yuan ($24.5) to 200 yuan per person, and the sum for residents eligible for the "five guarantees" – of food, clothing, housing, health care and burial expenses - will also increase to either 430 yuan or 520 yuan, depending on the status of the resident.

The bureau also said that the increase in the minimum allowance follows the recently issued instructions of the provincial authorities.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman