Helping COVID-19 Crisis Households with 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare'... "Extended Until the End of the Serious Phase"

Up to 3 Million KRW for Crisis Households with Median Income Below 100% and Assets Under 379 Million KRW
Including Income Loss from Unpaid Leave and Sharp Income Decline for Freelancers and Self-Employed Due to COVID-19 Special Circumstances

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 6th that it will extend the relaxation measures of the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' criteria until the highest level of the COVID-19 infectious disease crisis alert, the 'Severe' stage, is lifted. The plan is to continue lowering the threshold of the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' in the new year to provide uninterrupted emergency support to households facing sudden livelihood cliffs due to COVID-19.

If the income criteria (below 100% of the median income) and property criteria (below 379 million KRW) are met and the reason for crisis applies, up to 3 million KRW per household (based on a family of four) can be immediately supported. Reasons for crisis for supported households include sudden accidents or job loss, closure or suspension of operated businesses, or loss of income due to unpaid leave. Support is also available if the income of the main or secondary earner, who is a 'special-type worker, freelancer, or self-employed,' has sharply decreased.

For households at risk of solitary death, two additional livelihood payments will be provided, and for households facing difficulties due to heatwaves or cold waves, additional support of goods worth 100,000 KRW such as fans and blankets will be maintained to more intensively protect vulnerable citizens.

Seoul City explained that while the government’s 'National Emergency Welfare,' which temporarily relaxed criteria during the COVID-19 situation, ended its relaxation on December 31 last year, the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' will continue the relaxation measures. It is expected to play a role in supplementing welfare blind spots not covered by the 'National Emergency Welfare.'

Since economic recession due to COVID-19 is expected to continue this year, worsening the economic crisis of self-employed, special-type workers, freelancers, etc., the relaxation measures implemented since July 2020 will be maintained. Seoul City relaxed the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' support criteria in July 2020 to broadly support crisis households suffering from job loss, business closure, or suspension due to COVID-19. As the spread of COVID-19 prolonged, the relaxation measures have been temporarily extended every six months until the end of last year.

Meanwhile, the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' is a system that provides customized support of up to 3 million KRW for livelihood, medical, and housing expenses to households facing economic difficulties due to sudden crisis situations such as accidents, job loss, or business closure/suspension. Support is available if income and property criteria are met and the reason for crisis applies.

Ahn Hyun-min, Director of the Regional Care Welfare Division of Seoul City, said, “As the spread of COVID-19 continues and the temporary relaxation of the 'National Emergency Welfare' criteria has ended, economic difficulties for crisis households are expected to worsen, so we decided to extend the relaxation of the 'Seoul-type Emergency Welfare' criteria until the infectious disease crisis alert 'Severe' stage is lifted.” He added, “Seoul City will continue the relaxation measures of the Seoul-type Emergency Welfare to fully address welfare blind spots and focus on stabilizing citizens’ lives.”

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