[Q&A] Parental Allowance Available Based on Months for 2022-born Children... Also Provided to Parental Leave Recipients

70,000 KRW for age 0, 35,000 KRW for age 1
If you already received the infant allowance
No need to apply separately
Apply for changes if using daycare centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Starting from the new year, the existing 'Infant Allowance' will be expanded to 'Parent Allowance.' Children aged 0 will receive 700,000 KRW per month, and children turning 1 year old will receive 350,000 KRW per month. If using a daycare center, they will receive a childcare voucher worth 514,000 KRW, and for 0-year-olds, the difference of 186,000 KRW will be given in cash. To receive the parent allowance for the first time, an application must be submitted within 60 days including the child's birth date. If applied within 60 days after birth, support will be retroactively provided from the month of birth, but if applied after 60 days, the allowance will start from the month of application, so caution is required. Questions and answers regarding the parent allowance implemented from this year are summarized below.

- I am a parent of a child born in 2022. Can I receive the parent allowance this year?

▲ Yes, you can. If the child is 0 years old (0-11 months) in 2023, the parent allowance will be provided according to the child's age in months. For example, if the child was born in September 2022, they will receive 700,000 KRW per month until August this year, and 350,000 KRW per month from September onward. However, for children aged 1, the existing infant allowance payment plan applies starting from children born in 2022.

- I am receiving parental leave pay. Can I also receive the parent allowance?

▲ Yes, you can. The parent allowance is a universal benefit for children aged 0 to 1, regardless of whether the parent is on parental leave or receiving parental leave pay.

- If I receive the parent allowance, can I also receive the child allowance or the First Meeting Use Voucher?

▲ Even if you receive the parent allowance, you can still receive the child allowance and the First Meeting Use Voucher. For children born after 2022 who are raised at home, the parent allowance is provided from 0 to 23 months, and the childcare allowance is provided after 24 months. Therefore, children receiving the parent allowance cannot receive the childcare allowance simultaneously.

- My child was just born and I want to apply for the parent allowance for the first time. How do I apply?

▲ You can apply for the parent allowance by visiting the local community service center (eup/myeon/dong) within 60 days including the birth date, or apply online via Bokjiro or Government24. If you apply within 60 days, you can receive the allowance retroactively from the month of birth, but if you apply after 60 days, you will not receive retroactive payments, so please be careful.

- I am currently receiving 300,000 KRW infant allowance. I plan to continue raising my child at home. Do I need to apply separately for the parent allowance?

▲ The parent allowance is an expansion of the infant allowance, so if you are already receiving it, no separate application is necessary. Infant allowance recipients will receive the parent allowance according to the child's age starting this year.

- Next year, I will receive 700,000 KRW parent allowance but want to use a daycare center. What should I do?

▲ If you want to use a daycare center, visit the local community service center or apply online via Bokjiro or Government24 to change the benefit you want to receive. However, if you switch to the parent allowance and attend daycare, during the funding period, the full childcare fee of 514,000 KRW must be paid to the daycare center regardless of the actual number of days used. Therefore, if you want to use childcare services for a short time or irregularly, you can continue to receive the parent allowance (cash) and use hourly childcare or hourly care services. Please keep this in mind.

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