Increasing Single-Parent Families... Seoul City Raises Childcare Allowance from 100,000 to 200,000 Won per Month

Monthly Support for Adolescent Single Parents Raised from 250,000 to 350,000 Won
'Single-Parent Household Support Service' Expanded from 3 to 4 Times per Month, Free for Those Below 52% of Median Income

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City is expanding and strengthening support projects for single-parent families in response to the increasing trend of single-parent families and the growing diversity of policy demands.

According to Seoul City, single-parent households account for 7.2% (298,389 households) of the total 4,126,524 households in Seoul. Among these, only about 10% (31,425 households) receive support under the Single-Parent Family Support Act.

Accordingly, Seoul City will increase the child-rearing allowance for single parents receiving livelihood benefits from KRW 100,000 per child per month to KRW 200,000 per month starting this year. Applications for child-rearing support for low-income single-parent families can be made at the local community service centers. Single parents who were already receiving KRW 100,000 per month as part of livelihood benefits will automatically receive KRW 200,000 per month from January without a separate application.

In particular, child-rearing allowances for adolescent single parents raising children at a young age will be increased from KRW 250,000 to KRW 350,000 per child per month starting this year.

The eligibility for child-rearing support will also be expanded. When calculating income for eligibility, 30% of earned income from work or business will be deducted to support the economic independence of working single parents. This year, the ‘Single-Parent Household Support Service,’ which dispatches housekeepers to single parents who are balancing work or studies with child-rearing alone and facing difficulties, will be expanded. The support targets single parents with income below 120% of the median income. The number of housekeeping service visits will increase from three to four times per month, and for single parents with income below 52% of the median income, the service previously charged KRW 8,000 per visit will now be provided free of charge.

The program where experienced single parents act as ‘Single-Parent Life Coordinators’ to provide tailored information, counseling, and accompaniment services to newly single parents will also be expanded. The number of life coordinators will increase from 15 last year to 20 this year, providing one-on-one close support for early independence of single parents.

Meanwhile, support for workers at single-parent family welfare facilities will be strengthened. The city currently supports 26 such facilities to help single parents raise children and prepare for stable independence. New initiatives include comprehensive health checkup expenses for workers’ health protection and ‘Mind Connection’ support for psychological protection, along with an expansion of customized welfare points.

Additionally, Seoul City has secured 24 rental housing units through an agreement with the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) to provide rental deposit support to single-parent families. It also operates a dedicated support agency for unmarried fathers, offering various assistance related to childbirth and child-rearing. Low-income single-parent families with children under 18 who wish to apply for new support can do so at their local community service center, via the single-parent counseling hotline, or online.

Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul City Women and Family Policy Office, said, “Even when both parents are present, raising children is difficult these days, and single-parent families face even more challenges. Seoul City empathizes with the hardships of single-parent families and will devote efforts to broaden the target groups and create more detailed, customized support policies.”

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