Social security cards are proof that everyone enjoys employment, social security and other rights and interests, and are an important carrier of government livelihood services. However, recently, a so-called “gold social security card” made of gold appeared on the Internet. Some publishers claim that applying for this "gold card" can not only improve medical insurance reimbursement benefits, but also receive pension subsidies and enjoy free cultural and travel benefits. Some people even pretend to be staff of the human resources and social security department, asking for personal information and inducing transfers in the name of "applying for gold cards" and "distributing subsidies".
This so-called gold social security card is undoubtedly a cover for fraud. If you encounter this kind of rhetoric, you must be vigilant. So in daily life, what are the things we need to know about the application and use of social security cards?
According to information posted online, the fake material is a gold-style social security card, claiming to be managed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, with promotional phrases such as pension fund distribution and free cultural and tourism benefits. There are also forged screenshots of the Central Document No. 1 and a counterfeit fund approval backend page from the official website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The page fabricates records of large personal pension withdrawals. There are even people pretending to be staff of the Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, posting messages in social groups, showing off their so-called work ID cards, and asking citizens to keep communications open and cooperate in handling pension payments, in order to gain trust.
In fact, there are obvious differences between the real social security card and the golden social security card posted online. In accordance with the relevant management regulations of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, social security cards implement national unified basic standards. The front of the social security card is a unified template with the national emblem and the words "Social Security Card of the People's Republic of China" printed on it. The card size, chip technology, and basic anti-counterfeiting standards are unified across the country, ensuring that the social security card can be used nationwide and support basic services such as medical settlement in different places and social security inquiries.
The reporter learned from the review that unified social security cards do not mean they are exactly the same. In the details on the back, the third-generation social security cards in various places will add local characteristics. Zhang Xiao, director of the Medical Insurance and Social Security Research Center of Southeast University, told China Voice that the front of the card is unified across the country, and the localized design on the back of the card is a supporting design for each province to expand local cultural tourism, transportation, and government affairs scenarios under the unified national framework. It is a differentiated design within the scope of the regulations. There is no difference in the core social security functions and chip standards of the card, and insured rights will not be differentiated based on different patterns on the card.
Zhang Xiao, Director of the Medical Insurance and Social Security Research Center of Southeast University: Management norms and standards are still different in different places. There are differences between policies. In fact, there are also issues with technical standards, and there are differences in local social security systems. The country requires unified technical standards. The social security card has issued relevant technical specifications and standards, and legislation is also following up. Therefore, after these are implemented, they are basically in the process of unification, continuous improvement and adjustment, and it is an accelerated process.
The claims of "gold social security card" spread online mean that the reimbursement rate for medical treatment is higher, and there are even fraudulent messages about applying for a gold card on your behalf and applying for a gold card to enjoy special subsidies, which is a typical telecommunications fraud. In this regard, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security clearly refuted the rumors: There is no officially defined classification of gold cards and silver cards among the current social security cards in the country, and there is no national standard for gold social security cards to correspond to higher social security benefits. Zhang Xiao explained that with the iterative upgrade of social security cards, many additional functions will indeed be added, which will allow some criminals to take advantage of loopholes and pretend to be human resources and social security staff to mislead citizens. In fact, physical social security cards are uniformly issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and cooperative banks, and individuals cannot pay to upgrade the card level.
Zhang Xiao: Because the management of the entire business is entrusted by the government to banking institutions for specific operations. The main reason is that now the entire social security card is not only medical insurance, but also has many financial functions. In the management policy of social security cards, it is actually required to add this financial function, but when it comes to issuance, it is actually deeply bound to the cooperative bank.
Zhang Xiao reminded to identify relevant information on social security cards and look for the official release channels of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and local human resources and social bureaus. Anyone who claims that you can spend money to upgrade your social security card to a gold card, and that the reimbursement benefits and additional subsidies will be increased after the upgrade, is all false information.
Zhang Xiao: It is necessary to understand not only the national policies, but also some specific local implementation management methods. Only after you truly understand the policy will you know what its functions are. Because social security cards have more and more financial functions, they need to be treated differently to determine which ones can be enjoyed. After all, social security cards are mainly issued to protect the rights and interests of cardholders. Of course, the government must also do some better publicity, and ordinary people must understand relevant policies, including the use of cards, through formal channels.
It should be noted that insured persons can apply for social security cards through the following channels. Offline, you can bring your ID card and go to the social security service window, or fill out an application on-site at a cooperative bank branch authorized by the human resources and social security department; online, you can upload materials through the local social social app, WeChat or Alipay human social security applet to submit the application. After submitting the information, wait for the card to be issued. After receiving the card collection notification, I will receive it with valid documents and activate social security and financial functions as needed.
Zhang Xiao said frankly that in the face of all kinds of social security card popularization posts on the Internet, citizens need to be rational and not believe in rumors, let alone transfer money to unfamiliar accounts for the so-called "gold card upgrade". If you have questions about your social security card, you can call the 12333 human resources and social security service hotline for verification.
Zhang Xiao: We have opened many simple or helpful ways to enable citizens to use this card better. Communities, streets, and neighborhood committees all have this function. Social security institutions have already been involved in the most basic communities, including rural areas. Therefore, some related rights and policies can be learned from specific government departments. It also has a dedicated service hotline. If you have any questions, you can call them and ask for door-to-door service.
