Gyeonggi-do Transitions to Permanent System for Identifying Welfare Blind Spots... Joint Consultative Body Activated

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is converting the discovery of welfare blind spots, which had been operated only during summer and winter, into a regular system.

The province announced on the 14th that it will operate the 'Welfare Blind Spot Discovery and Support Joint Council (TF)' starting this month to efficiently identify residents in crisis within welfare blind spots.

The province explained that the TF was established due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to increased welfare blind spots caused by income loss, financial delinquency, and a rise in middle-aged single-person households at risk of seclusion and isolation.

The TF is composed of five departments, including the Director of the Gyeonggi Province Welfare Bureau as the head, Welfare Policy Division, Welfare Business Division, Senior Welfare Division, Disabled Welfare Division, and Disabled Independence Support Division.

In cooperation with city and county governments, the TF will focus on eight major projects: ▲planned discovery of households in crisis ▲strengthening welfare and job linkage for financially vulnerable groups ▲verification survey for National Basic Livelihood Security (low-income groups) ▲support projects for households suspected of hoarding disorder ▲special protection measures for homeless people in summer and winter ▲Gyeonggi middle-aged mental care telephone counseling ▲support for elderly people collecting recyclables ▲management of history for those wishing to receive disability pensions and disability (child) allowances.

Additionally, considering the increase in financially vulnerable groups due to COVID-19, the province will conduct counseling and promote linkage services targeting users of the 'Gyeonggi Ultra-Low Credit Loan.'

The Gyeonggi Ultra-Low Credit Loan is a program that provides loans of up to 3 million KRW at an annual interest rate of 1% with a 5-year maturity to low-credit residents aged 19 or older who need living expenses but have difficulty using financial institutions due to low credit ratings.

Yoon Young-mi, head of the Welfare Policy Division of the province, emphasized, "We will actively and continuously discover and support households in crisis through big data-based planned discovery, public-private cooperation, and strengthening the capabilities of welfare communities."

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