I’m Li, turning 39 today. I’m unemployed, living on a tight budget in southern China, and today is my “payday” — but not from a job. It’s the day my monthly unemployment benefit arrives.
Many people don’t know how unemployment benefits work in China. They’re not automatic, and they depend on strict rules: how long you worked before being laid off, whether you quit voluntarily, and where you live. Benefits stop the moment you find new work.
For some, they can last up to 24 months. For me, they’re coming to an end soon.
This is my story: how much I receive each month, how I stretch it to cover rent and life, and what it’s like to face an uncertain future one day at a time.

Written by Li. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 International License.
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