550,000 Households with Income Decrease Over 25% Due to COVID-19 to Receive Emergency Living Expenses

Online Applications Start from the 12th... 400,000 to 1,000,000 KRW Provided per Household

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government will provide emergency livelihood support funds to 550,000 low-income households whose income has decreased by more than 25% due to the damage caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 8th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it will accept online applications for emergency livelihood support for crisis households, a project under the 4th supplementary budget, starting from the 12th to support low-income crisis households whose income has decreased due to COVID-19. On-site applications will be available from the 19th.

The support targets households with a standard median income of 75% or less who are facing difficulties in livelihood due to a decrease in income of 25% or more caused by COVID-19-related unemployment, business suspension, or closure, but who are not receiving support from existing welfare systems or other COVID-19 damage support programs.

However, those receiving basic livelihood security benefits, emergency welfare (livelihood support) cannot receive overlapping support, nor can those receiving emergency employment stabilization funds, Small Business New Hope Funds, Closed Store Rechallenge Incentives, Worker Employment Retention Support Funds, Youth Special Employment Support Program participants, or unemployment benefits.

Income will be verified based on submitted documents and official data on earned income and business income (Happiness e-um). Property will be checked through 'Happiness e-um' without separate submission, including general assets such as land, buildings, houses, other assets such as rental income and interest income, and automobiles.

Whether income has decreased will be determined by whether income from July to September this year (monthly or average income) has decreased by 25% or more compared to reported earned or business income during a past comparison period. The past comparison period can be chosen from the most favorable among the 2019 monthly average income, July to September 2019 monthly or average income, or January to June 2020 monthly or average income.

If the number of applicants exceeds the budget, city, county, and district offices plan to prioritize payments in the order of ① lower household income, ② higher income reduction rate, and ③ lower annual income.

Emergency livelihood support funds for crisis households will be applied for and paid on a household basis (household members registered as of September 9, 2020). A one-time payment of 1 million KRW for households of four or more (400,000 KRW for one person, 600,000 KRW for two persons, 800,000 KRW for three persons) will be made.

Applications can be made online non-face-to-face or by visiting the town, township, or neighborhood office. To prevent connection failures and maintain social distancing, an ‘application day system’ will be operated so that applicants do not crowd. Based on the last digit of the birth year, applications are accepted on ▲Monday for 1,6 ▲Tuesday for 2,7 ▲Wednesday for 3,8 ▲Thursday for 4,9 ▲Friday for 5,0 ▲Saturday for odd numbers ▲Sunday for even numbers.

For online applications, the head of the household must access Bokjiro (http://bokjiro.go.kr) or mobile Bokjiro (m.bokjiro.go.kr), verify their identity via mobile phone, fill out the application form and consent to provide personal information, and submit evidence related to income reduction.

Applications for emergency livelihood support for crisis households will be accepted until the end of October. After investigating income, property, whether income has decreased by 25%, and overlap with other COVID-19 damage support programs, payments will be made once from November to December.

Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, “Emergency livelihood support for crisis households has been prepared to support citizens affected by COVID-19 as much as possible by significantly relaxing asset criteria compared to existing livelihood support systems such as emergency welfare and broadly recognizing evidence of income reduction.”

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