Suncheon City "This Year, Customized (Livelihood, Medical, Housing) Benefits Change Like This!"

Strengthening Basic Living Security for Citizens to Build a Robust Social Safety Net

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Heo Seok) announced on the 5th that it will build a more robust social safety net by strengthening basic living security for citizens, including expanding projects for socially vulnerable groups, to realize a warmer welfare city this year.

▶ Abolition of the Livelihood Benefit Support Obligation Standard and Increase in Selection Criteria (Payment Amount)

Following the complete abolition of the support obligation standard for livelihood benefits under the Basic Livelihood Security Program in October last year, the number of households receiving livelihood benefits in Suncheon increased from 4,700 households and 6,050 people in 2020 to 5,400 households and 6,799 people as of November last year, marking a 14.8% increase in household members compared to the previous year.

The support target applies to households with income below 30% of the median income, and the benefit amount is paid as a supplementary benefit, which is the difference after deducting the recognized income amount per household.

However, households with a support obligor earning over 100 million KRW annually or possessing high assets (900 million KRW) are excluded.

This year, the selection criteria and payment amount for livelihood benefits have been increased by 5.02%, which is expected to contribute to stabilizing the lives of low-income elderly households facing poverty issues.

▶ Abolition of Support Obligation Standard for Medical Benefits Including Elderly Households and Increase in Medical Meal Allowance

Suncheon’s medical benefit recipients total 5,248 households and 6,772 people. Previously, medical benefits were provided after investigating the income and assets of the first-degree relatives who are support obligors for all household members applying for basic livelihood security. However, from this year, the support obligation standard for medical benefits will be abolished for households that include elderly people receiving basic pensions among the support obligor households.

This is expected to reduce the medical blind spots where support was not provided because elderly individuals were judged capable of support despite practical difficulties due to old age.

Additionally, the medical meal allowance has been increased from 3,900 KRW per meal to 4,130 KRW, which is expected to enhance medical coverage through improved quality of patient meals.

▶ Expansion of Housing Benefit Support Targets for Housing Stability (Increase from 45% to 46% of Median Income)

In housing benefits aimed at stabilizing housing for vulnerable groups, the abolition of support obligations and the relaxation of criteria such as raising the median income standard have gradually expanded the support targets.

Last year, the housing benefit selection criterion was households with income below 45% of the median income, but it has been expanded to households below 46%.

This year, Suncheon’s housing benefit recipients currently number 6,866 households, including 812 owner-occupied and 6,054 rental households. Since last year, separate housing benefits have also been provided to unmarried children in their 20s living apart from their parents within beneficiary households through youth housing benefit separate payments.

Starting in June, a special temporary monthly rent support project for low-income youth will be implemented to alleviate housing cost burdens for young people.

The support target is homeless youth aged 19 to 34 with income below 60% of the median income, who also meet the condition that the original household (parents) income is below 100% of the median income. They will receive up to 200,000 KRW per month for 12 months within the monthly rent range.

A representative from Suncheon City’s Social Welfare Division stated, “We will do our best to ensure that vulnerable groups and care households in welfare blind spots can live happy lives within the public welfare safety net.”

For detailed information such as applying for various customized benefits, inquiries can be made at the Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Centers or the Suncheon City Social Welfare Division.

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