Does it matter if you stop paying Social Security for a year in the middle?

There are implications of stopping social security payments for a year. For example, the person concerned will not be able to enjoy the corresponding medical insurance benefits during this period; his/her contribution period for pension insurance etc. will also be interrupted; and the period for the person concerned to enjoy the pension insurance benefits will also be delayed.

Legal basis

Article 16 of the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China

Individuals who have participated in basic old-age insurance and have contributed for fifteen years by the time they reach the statutory retirement age shall receive a monthly basic pension.

Individuals who have participated in basic old-age insurance and have contributed for less than fifteen years by the time they reach the legal retirement age may contribute until they reach the full fifteen years and receive a basic pension on a monthly basis; they may also be transferred to the new type of rural social old-age insurance or the urban residents' social old-age insurance, and enjoy the corresponding old-age insurance treatment in accordance with the provisions of the State Council.

Article 27 of the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China

Individuals who have participated in the basic medical insurance for employees, and who have paid contributions for a total of up to a specified number of years by the state when they reach the legal age of retirement, will no longer have to pay the basic medical insurance premiums after their retirement, and will be entitled to the basic medical insurance benefits in accordance with the state regulations; those who have not yet reached the state's specified number of years may pay contributions for up to the state's specified number of years.