Increase in Diaper and Baby Formula Subsidies for Low-Income Families Amid High Inflation

Diapers 64,000 won → 70,000 won
Formula milk 86,000 won → 90,000 won

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government will increase the support funds for diapers and formula milk for low-income families starting next month.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 31st that, as part of the "Measures to Stabilize Livelihoods to Alleviate the Burden of High Prices" discussed at the 1st Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting held on the 8th, the support unit price for diapers and formula milk for low-income families will be raised from next month.

The support for diaper purchase costs, which was 64,000 KRW per infant per month, will increase to 70,000 KRW. The support for formula milk purchase costs, currently 86,000 KRW per month, will be raised to 90,000 KRW starting in August.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to continuously apply the increased support unit price to the rapidly growing number of low-income diaper and formula milk voucher users (93,000 annually) whose household incomes have decreased and prices have risen due to COVID-19.

The Ministry’s diaper purchase cost support program targets basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty families, single-parent families, and families with disabilities or multiple children (two or more) whose income is below 80% of the median income, raising infants aged 0 to 24 months. The costs are paid for up to 24 months through the National Happiness Card voucher.

Formula milk purchase costs are supported for children in diaper support households where breastfeeding is impossible due to the mother's death or illness, or for children in child welfare facilities.

Families wishing to receive this support can apply through the health center, community service center in the infant’s registered residential area, or via the Bokjiro or Government24 websites. Eligibility is determined after review by the health center.

Bae Geum-ju, Director of Population and Child Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "We hope this support measure will help families raising infants under 24 months, and the Ministry will continue to do its best to create a better environment for raising children."

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