Incheon Basic Livelihood Security Recipients Increase by 18.7%... 360 Billion Won Invested in Comprehensive Welfare

Incheon City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is investing a budget of 365 billion KRW to guarantee the basic livelihood of low-income households struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the city on the 23rd, the number of basic livelihood security recipients in the Incheon area currently stands at about 145,000, an increase of 18.7% compared to before COVID-19.

This shows a sharp increase in crisis households caused by income reduction and unemployment amid the pandemic crisis, compared to the increase rate of 10.7% from 2018 (110,257 people) to 2019 (120,027 people).

The city will provide about 100,000 basic livelihood security recipient households with financial support necessary for daily life, as well as partial exemption of out-of-pocket expenses required for medical examinations, tests, medication, surgery, and hospitalization.

It will support rent and other costs necessary for housing stability, and provide educational activity support fees and tuition for elementary, middle, and high school students. Opportunities for participation in self-support work will be given to recipients and near-poor individuals with working ability, along with self-support benefits.

Additionally, childbirth benefits needed before and after delivery and funeral benefits required for funeral arrangements in case of recipient death will be provided.

Furthermore, the city offers emergency support such as living expenses and medical services to households facing sudden crises that make maintaining livelihood difficult, and supported 5,077 cases last year through the Incheon-type emergency welfare project for households outside the system.

Going forward, the city plans to proactively identify and promptly respond to citizens in difficult living conditions or crises by utilizing big data such as power and water cutoffs and health insurance premium arrears.

To this end, the city will activate the operation of the community social security council composed of about 2,750 members and expand welfare-dedicated personnel to provide detailed, customized integrated services for crisis households.

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