A post by a Shenzhen resident claiming she was denied new child care subsidies because she was unmarried has sparked a wave of debate across Chinese social media, drawing thousands of comments and reigniting discussions on whether benefits should extend to single parents.

In the widely shared post, the resident said local health authorities had informed her via text message that her child's birth did not meet the legal criteria for receiving the subsidy, as the parents had not registered their marriage.

The subsidies are part of a national cash subsidy program announced in late July for parents of young children, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to reverse its declining birthrate.

The program will offer annual cash payments of 3,600 yuan ($502) for each legitimate child under age 3, and applies retroactively from Jan 1, 2025.

Although the application was rejected on the basis of marital status, the resident noted that the child's birth had been lawfully registered.

Citing Guangdong's population and family planning regulations, as well as its birth registration management measures, the resident expressed confusion over the decision, arguing that births out of wedlock can still be officially registered.

"My child is registered according to the law," the resident wrote, adding that she had used maternity insurance for childbirth and received maternity benefits. "It means the childbirth is fully recognized."

In response, a staff member from the health commission of Shenzhen said the current policy defines "legally compliant childbirth" as requiring a marital relationship. They added, however, that the final rules for the subsidies will depend on guidance from Guangdong's provincial health authorities.

The official said the current interpretation is based on existing regulations, but whether a marriage certificate will ultimately be required will be determined by the forthcoming province-wide child care subsidy application system, which is scheduled to be launched by the end of August.

At a news conference on July 30, Wang Haidong, director of the Department of Population Surveillance and Family Development at the National Health Commission, said applicants would only need to submit essential documents proving the child's identity and the parent-child relationship such as the birth medical certificate and household registration booklet to claim the subsidies.

The national and local governments have completed the construction of the child care subsidy information management system and are currently conducting full-process testing. According to the work plan, application channels for the subsidy will gradually open across regions in late August, with full access expected nationwide by Aug 31, Wang said.

The post has sparked widespread discussion among netizens, with most arguing that the child care subsidies should be given to parents without marriage certificates.

"The subsidy is for childbirth, not marriage. Why can't it be claimed?" said a netizen, citing the number of single parents raising children has increased significantly in recent years.

"If the policy is aimed at boosting the birth rate, the subsidy should be given to the child, not tied to marriage," the netizen added.