When a man with a disability, surnamed Diao, received 20,000 yuan ($3,015) of judicial aid from a local administrative judge on the morning of Aug 12, he felt excited and thankful.

Lawyers ask about Diao's recovery after the motorcycle accident. [Photo by Chen Mengjing/People's Court Daily]

"I had never expected so much judicial funding...Thank you for sending the money to me in person. You are so helpful,' Diao said.

Diao suffered a motorcycle accident and was hospitalized in June, 2014. In accordance with the tribunal ruling, the defendant should pay him 290,689 ($43,826) yuan, but Diao never received it.

Because of the injury, Diao cannot work and his wife has to look after him at home instead of working. The whole family slipped into deep poverty.

When the lawyers from Nangang District People's Court in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region learned about this, they immediately reported it to the court management, and applied for judicial aid for Diao.

Diao signs a receipt for the judicial aid. [Photo by Chen Mengjing/People's Court Daily]

Over the past two years, the central government has allocated 700 million yuan ($106 million) for judicial aid. In 2014 alone, 80,042 people around the country received money.

Victims of four categories can apply for the aid: criminal victims who need urgent medical treatment; whistle-blowers, witnesses, and surveyors who suffer from retaliation; those in need of alimony; and traffic accident victims.

The aid criterion is based on the victim's average monthly wage over the past year. Generally, it shouldn't surpass the total monthly wage of 36 months.

"Judicial aid is a kind of national welfare, and it cannot cover all costs and damages," said Wang Minyuan, a researcher with the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "It only fits for urgent need, such as living and medical care."

Diao receives the 20,000 yuan ($3,015) of judicial aid. [Photo by Chen Mengjing/People's Court Daily]

Diao shakes hands with a local administrative judge as he leaves. [Photo by Chen Mengjing/People's Court Daily]