From Online to Phone... "Apply for Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Even on Weekends"

Applications through card companies available from the 16th
No birth year restrictions
Also available at bank counters from the 18th

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Starting from the weekend of the 16th, regardless of the last digit of the birth year, it will be possible to apply for the government's emergency disaster relief fund through credit card companies. Applications can be made not only through each card company's website but also via call centers and the automated response system (ARS).

According to the card industry on the 16th, each card company will accept applications for the emergency disaster relief fund from that day onward regardless of the last digit of the birth year. The government applied a day-of-the-week system similar to the five-day mask distribution system during the first week of applications from the 11th to the 15th to prepare for a surge in applications.

Applications for the emergency disaster relief fund through credit card companies can be made not only via websites and mobile applications (apps) but also through call centers and ARS.

Applications via ARS are available 24 hours a day for all eight card companies?Shinhan, Samsung, KB Kookmin, Hyundai, Lotte, BC, Woori, and Hana Card?except during the common system maintenance time from 11:30 PM to 12:30 AM. NH Nonghyup Card is considering adding a telephone application window.

Call center application hours vary by card company. Shinhan, Samsung, and Hana Cards accept applications 24 hours a day. Other card companies accept applications through call centers during operator business hours from 9 AM to 6 PM. KB Kookmin Card and Lotte Card take reservation applications from customers who inquire outside call center operating hours and call the customers the next day.

Starting from the 18th, applications to receive the emergency disaster relief fund via credit or debit cards will also be possible at bank branch counters. Bank-affiliated cards such as Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Woori, Hana, and NH Nonghyup Cards will accept applications at their respective financial group bank branches, while BC Card will accept applications at 15 affiliated financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the emergency disaster relief fund can only be applied for by the head of the household. Whether one is the head of the household can be confirmed through the government’s emergency disaster relief fund inquiry service. The support amounts are 400,000 KRW for single-person households, 600,000 KRW for two-person households, 800,000 KRW for three-person households, and 1,000,000 KRW for households of four or more. After applying for the disaster relief fund, applicants can receive a text message within 48 hours confirming that the fund has been disbursed.

The disaster relief fund points should be used in the same way as the basic card. Card companies send usage details via text message when the disaster relief fund is used. For example, "Government emergency disaster relief fund used amount 10,000 KRW, remaining balance 390,000 KRW." Usage details can also be checked through card company applications (apps).

The disaster relief fund must be used at credit card merchants located within the head of household’s residence in special/metropolitan cities or provinces by August 31. Any unused balance after this date will be forfeited and returned to the national treasury, so refunds are not possible. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is consulting with local governments to allow a one-time change of the disaster relief fund usage area only if the applicant moves after the disaster relief fund payment reference date and the registered address on the resident registration changes to another metropolitan local government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.