Pilot Project for 'Sangbyeong Soodang' Paid During Inability to Work Due to Illness... 6,005 Cases Paid Over One Year

The pilot project for ‘Sangbyeong Soodang’ (sickness allowance), which compensates income loss when work ability is lost due to illness or other health issues, has marked its first year of implementation. During this period, a total of 6,005 cases were paid an average of 837,000 KRW for an average of 18.6 days, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 2nd.

The first phase of the Sangbyeong Soodang pilot project began on July 4 last year in six regions: Jongno-gu in Seoul, Bucheon-si in Gyeonggi, Cheonan-si in Chungnam, Suncheon-si in Jeonnam, Pohang-si in Gyeongbuk, and Changwon-si in Gyeongnam. The target beneficiaries were health insurance workplace subscribers, employment and industrial accident insurance subscribers, and self-employed individuals.

The main illnesses among Sangbyeong Soodang recipients were ‘injury-related diseases of the neck, shoulders, etc.’ with 1,794 cases (29.9%), followed by ‘musculoskeletal-related diseases’ with 1,693 cases (28.2%), and ‘cancer-related diseases’ with 1,118 cases (18.6%).

By employment qualification of applicants, health insurance workplace subscribers accounted for the majority with 3,300 people (74.2%). Self-employed individuals were 803 (18.1%), and employment and industrial accident insurance subscribers were 343 (7.7%). The proportion of office workers was 26.3%, while non-office workers accounted for 73.7%.

By age group, applicants in their 50s ranked first with 39.1%, followed by those in their 40s (23.5%), 60s (20.1%), 30s (12%), 20s (5.2%), and teens (0.1%).

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that starting from the 3rd, the second phase of the Sangbyeong Soodang pilot project will be conducted, adding four more regions: Anyang-si and Yongin-si in Gyeonggi, Dalseo-gu in Daegu, and Iksan-si in Jeonbuk. For the second phase, support will be focused on low-income workers, limiting eligibility to workers in the bottom 50% income bracket.

The Ministry stated that the first phase pilot project was operated without income or property criteria as before, and the results will be compared and analyzed with those of the second phase pilot project.

Jung Yoon-soon, Director of the Health Insurance Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, “Over the past year, more than 6,000 cases of Sangbyeong Soodang have been paid, benefiting those who were unable to work due to injury or illness. The Ministry will additionally operate the second phase pilot project to run various models necessary for discussions on institutional introduction, and will ensure the pilot project is carried out smoothly so that more residents in a total of 10 regions can benefit.”

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