Pohang City Operates Intensive Application Period for ‘Right to Rest When Sick’ Sick Leave Allowance Pilot Project

Expansion of Sick Leave Benefits Eligibility, Intensive Application Period Until November 11

Non-residents of Pohang ... Workers Employed at Pohang-based Workplaces Now Eligible to Apply

Pohang City Operates Intensive Application Period for Pilot Project on Sick Leave Benefits Entitled "The Right to Rest When Sick".

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Pohang City is operating an intensive application period for the pilot project of sickness allowance for the “right to rest when sick” until November 11.

Since July 4, the city has been the first in the nation to be selected for the sickness allowance pilot project, which guarantees income so that workers can focus on treatment when it is difficult to engage in economic activities due to illness or injury outside of work, and has been implementing it three years ahead of the full system.

During this “intensive application period,” considering cases where workers who do not reside in Pohang but work at workplaces located in Pohang can newly apply for the sickness allowance due to the revision of the pilot project guidelines, applications for sickness allowance can be submitted even if ▲the application deadline has passed or ▲a diagnosis certificate for sickness allowance application has not been issued.

Those who have not prepared a diagnosis certificate for sickness allowance application can apply for the sickness allowance by submitting supporting documents such as a general diagnosis certificate, medical records like admission and discharge confirmation, medical expense payment confirmation, or work suspension application proving that they were unable to work due to illness or injury outside of work.

Those who previously applied for and received sickness allowance but did not fully receive recognition for the period of work incapacity due to delayed issuance of diagnosis certificates can also submit additional supporting documents and apply for the allowance during this intensive application period.

In the revised pilot project, for special employment types such as delivery drivers and substitute drivers, the work suspension plan, which previously required confirmation from the employer, can now be written and submitted directly by the individual.

The city has continuously requested the government to expand the target areas and age groups for the pilot project support, and despite a 7-day waiting period deduction, as of October 23, 100 out of 338 applications have been paid, with an average payment of 851,000 KRW per case confirmed.

Mayor Kangdeok Lee said, “We have continuously requested to expand the eligible recipients of the pilot project, and as a result, some criteria have been relaxed for workers residing outside the region but working at workplaces within Pohang. We will continue to maintain close cooperation with related organizations such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Pohang South Branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation to actively strive for the safety and happiness of Pohang citizens.”

For more details about the intensive application period, please search for sickness allowance on the National Health Insurance Corporation website or contact the Pohang South Branch of the National Health Insurance Corporation or the National Health Insurance Corporation directly.

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