FAQs About Comprehensive Replacement of Third-Generation Social Security Cards by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security
Q: What functions does a third-generation social security card have?
A: The third-generation social security cards are upgraded based on the first and second-generation versions. These cards have undergone optimization and enhancements in terms of technology and security, equipped newly with national cryptographic (SM) algorithms and contactless functionality. While retaining the basic functions of the old versions, such as those for medical treatment, medicine purchases, and self-service inquiries, a third-generation card can also serve as an identity credential for services within the domains of human resources and social security. The new functions include those of transportation, park annual passes, and financial services.
Q: Who are eligible to have their social security cards replaced?
A: Individuals who are legally enrolled in the social insurance program within the administrative region of Beijing Municipality may voluntarily apply for the cards or the replacement of their old cards.
Q: Which banks are the cooperative partners offering services relevant to the third-generation social security cards?
A: There are a total of 15 cooperative banks within the administrative region of Beijing Municipality: the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the Bank of China, the China Construction Bank, the Bank of Communications, the Bank of Beijing, Huaxia Bank, the Beijing Rural Commercial Bank, the China CITIC Bank, the China Everbright Bank, the China Minsheng Bank, the China Guangfa Bank, the China Merchants Bank, the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and the Postal Savings Bank of China.
Q: What is the schedule for the replacement?
A: (I) Centralized Replacement Phases
The centralized replacement is scheduled to be conducted in five phases from October 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, targeting three groups: insured employees, independent insurees, and retirees. For individuals who have not had their cards replaced or their third-generation cards activated, the functions of their currently-held first or second-generation cards will remain unaffected and can continue to be used.
Phase I: Starting from October 30, 2024 (for employees of the insured entities in five districts: Fangshan, Shunyi, Changping, Daxing and Pinggu, and Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area)
Phase II: Starting from February 2025 (for employees of the insured entities in four districts: Haidian, Fengtai, Tongzhou and Yanqing)
Phase III: Starting from May 2025 (for employees of the insured entities in four districts: Dongcheng, Chaoyang, Mentougou and Miyun)
Phase IV: Starting from August 2025 (for all independent insurees citywide, including minors under 18 years old, university students aged 18 and above, persons participating in the urban employee social insurance program as flexible employees, and persons participating in the social insurance program for urban and rural residents individually)
Phase V: Starting from October 2025 (for all retirees citywide)
(II) Regular Replacement Phase
The regular replacement phase will commence on January 1, 2026, with the offline service outlets to be opened. Individuals who do not replace their cards during any of the centralized replacement phases can apply for the third-generation cards through online or offline channels at their own convenience. From this point onwards, all newly issued and reissued cards and those issued for replacement in the city will be third-generation cards. The issuance of the first and second-generation cards will cease, but the existing old cards will remain functional and unaffected.
Q: What are the channels and methods for replacement?
A: (I) Channels and Methods During the Centralized Replacement Phases
During the centralized replacement phases, only online service channels are available, including: the official website and official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security (北京人社), the "Jingtong" mini-program, and the "Beijing Minsheng Yikatong" (北京民生一卡通) WeChat mini-program.
1. Employees: Replacement is organized by their insured employers. Each employer shall select up to three cooperative banks (including a salary disbursement bank) based on its actual situation. Every employee shall choose one bank from the options determined by his/her employer to apply for a third-generation card.
Specific operating procedures: See Attachment 1 "Operating Instructions for Online Centralized Applications for Third-Generation Social Security Cards by Employers in Beijing".
2. Individually insurees:
(1) For minors (individuals under 18 years old, including primary and secondary school students and infants participating in the basic medical insurance program for urban and rural residents), their parents or other guardians are responsible of submitting applications for them. A parent or any other guardian can voluntarily choose a bank in charge of replacement and apply for the card on behalf of the minor concerned.
(2) University students aged 18 and above: For university students who are insured independently, and those who are not on campus due to special circumstances, they can choose banks in charge of replacement at will and apply for the third-generation cards. For a university where students participate collectively in the basic medical insurance program for urban and rural residents, the university shall select up to three cooperative banks and arrange the applications uniformly. Every student can choose one bank from the options determined by his/her university to apply for the card.
(3) Other individuals participating in the urban employee social insurance program as flexible employees and those participating individually in the social insurance program for urban and rural residents can choose banks to apply for their cards.
Specific operating procedures: See Attachment 2 "Online Operating Instructions for Agents of Minors (Individuals Aged Under 18) Applying for Third-Generation Social Security Cards in Beijing", and Attachment 3 "Online Operating Instructions for Independent Insurees Applying for Third-Generation Social Security Cards in Beijing".
3. Retirees: Retirees in Beijing can apply for the third-generation cards through online channels or with assistance from the social workers from their communities/villages (door-to-door service). For the first-time replacement, a retiree can apply at the bank that currently disburses his/her pension as the bank in charge of replacement. If there is a need to change the bank later, this can be done after receiving the third-generation card.
Specific operating procedures: See Attachment 4 "Online Operating Instructions for Retirees Applying for Third-Generation Social Security Cards in Beijing".
(II) Channels and Methods During the Regular Replacement Phase
During the regular replacement phase, besides the extant online service channels, offline service channels will be opened, including: service outlets of the cooperative banks for the social security cards, and district-level and sub-district-level social security card service outlets. Insurees can apply for the third-generation cards through online or offline service channels.
Details of all social security card service outlets can be found via the official website of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security or the "Beijing Minsheng Yikatong" (北京民生一卡通) WeChat mini-program.
Q: How much time is needed for issuing a third-generation social security card? How can an insuree collect his/her card?
A: (I) Online Service Channels
For insurees applying for a third-generation card through an online service channel, the card will be produced within 30 calendar days from the date of application (excluding mailing time). There are three ways to collect the card:
1. Collect at a Cooperative Bank's Service Outlet
After the card is produced, the insuree, upon receiving an SMS notification from the bank, shall go to the selected outlet to collect the card. The cardholder can activate the social security function and the financial function on-site.
2. Collect by Mail Delivery
After the card is produced, the issuing cooperative bank will provide a delivery service. After receiving the card, the insuree can activate the social security function (including medical settlement) through online or offline service channels. To activate the financial function, the insuree can visit a service outlet of the issuing bank nearby.
3. Door-to-Door Delivery by a Bank
For an entity requiring this service, the entity's designated person in charge can contact the corresponding cooperative bank to arrange door-to-door delivery after the card(s) is/are produced, and simultaneously activate the social security function and financial function of the card(s).
(II) Offline Service Channels
Cooperative Banks' Social Security Card Service Outlets
If applying at an instant card production service outlet of a cooperative bank, the insuree can have the card produced and collected on-site. If applying at a non-instant card production service outlet of a cooperative bank, card production will be completed within 4 working days from the application date. The insuree can choose to collect at a service outlet of the responsible cooperative bank or by mail delivery. Production time excludes mailing time. Outlets displaying the "Beijing Social Security Card Service Outlet" (北京市社会保障卡服务网点) sign outside are instant card production outlets.
District-Level and Sub-District-Level Social Security Card Service Outlets
For an insuree applying at a district-level or sub-district-level social security card service outlet, card production will be completed within 30 calendar days from the application date. The insuree can choose to collect at a service outlet of the responsible cooperative bank or by mail delivery. The production time excludes the time needed for mail delivery.