Jeongeup-si Abolishes 'Support Obligation Criteria' for Basic Livelihood Security Living Allowance

Published 31 Aug.2021 14:03(KST)

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeongeup City, Jeonbuk Province (Mayor Yoo Jinseop) announced on the 31st that starting from October, the National Basic Livelihood Security Project will be revised, and the support obligation criteria for basic livelihood security livelihood benefits will be completely abolished.

The government originally planned to abolish it next year, but to eliminate blind spots of poverty, strengthen protection for existing beneficiaries, and due to the prolonged spread of COVID-19, the implementation has been advanced by three months.

Accordingly, regardless of the presence or absence of a support obligor, applicants who meet the income and property criteria can receive livelihood benefits.

The support obligor criteria refer to considering the income and property levels of all household members of the household applying for basic livelihood security, including first-degree lineal relatives (parents and children), when selecting beneficiaries.

The abolition of the support obligor criteria aims to eliminate welfare blind spots by supporting those who were unable to receive practical help due to having a support obligor despite being economically inactive themselves.

However, support cannot be received if there is a high-income (annual 100 million KRW, before tax) or high-asset (900 million KRW) support obligor.

Applications can be made at the resident center of the applicant’s registered address (eup, myeon, dong), and if designated as a livelihood benefit recipient, benefits can be received retroactively from the month of application.

The city plans to distribute promotional materials in places frequently used by many people and in areas densely populated by low-income groups, and continuously promote through the city website and SNS.

Mayor Yoo Jinseop said, “It is expected that many citizens will benefit from the abolition of the support obligor criteria,” and added, “To this end, we will operate a focused promotion period around the upcoming Chuseok holiday next month to ensure that no eligible person is missed.”