BEIJING, July 10 -- The government last year compensated 770,000 couples who have reached middle age with their only child deceased or disabled, an official said on Friday.

Under a system incorporated into the one-child policy in 2008, couples who have not had a second child or adopted another child before the woman reaches 45 are given a monthly allowance.

Last year, the government gave this allowance to around 470,000 couples whose only child had died, and 300,000 whose only child was disabled, said Yang Wenzhuang, a one-child policy administrator for the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), at a press conference.

"Many families have followed the one-child policy since the1970s, making a great contribution to the implementation of this basic state policy. Their difficulties deserve to be addressed by the government and society," said Yang.

At the end of 2013, the NHFPC raised the allowance in the case of urban residents to 270 yuan (43.5 U.S. dollars) per month if their only child is disabled and 340 yuan per month if their only child is deceased. Rural residents get 150 yuan and 170 yuan respectively.

The couples also enjoy preferential pension and healthcare policies.