Yeo and Kang Ki-yoon "To Prevent Tragedy of Three Mothers in Suwon"... Propose Amendment to Social Security Benefits Act

Proposed Amendment to Allow Social Security Benefit Applications Even if Address and Actual Residence Differ

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The People Power Party has proposed the so-called 'Suwon Three Mothers Act' to minimize blind spots related to social security benefit applications.

Kang Ki-yoon, the senior member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the People Power Party, announced on the 29th that he has introduced a bill aimed at allowing information on households using the old-age emergency fund loan program conducted by the National Pension Service and information on households seeking debt adjustment through the Credit Recovery Committee to be provided to the social security system.

According to recent data on recipients using the old-age emergency fund over the past five years, received by Kang's office from the National Pension Service, there were 8,326 cases as of last year, amounting to 53.3 billion KRW.

The National Pension is intended for future old-age living expenses, but vulnerable groups are using it as deposit for monthly rent, and even this is increasingly overdue. Additionally, in cases like the 'Suwon Three Mothers' incident, where the registered address differs from the actual residence, there are some restrictions on receiving social security benefits, which may lead to exclusion from various welfare services.

Kang proposed an amendment to the Social Security Benefits Act that allows applicants to apply for social security benefits at their current residence if it differs from their registered address, thereby improving access to welfare services for eligible recipients.

Kang said, "Incidents where socially vulnerable groups do not receive care and commit suicide, like the Suwon Three Mothers case, must no longer occur. We will continuously seek and devise ways to improve the social welfare delivery system, such as newly identifying families in crisis by amending the Social Security Benefits Act, and strive tirelessly to create a South Korea where socially vulnerable groups can live with peace of mind."

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