Gangnam-gu, Full Survey of 3,424 Households Excluded from Social Security Benefits

According to next year's Basic Livelihood Security Comprehensive Plan, social security benefit eligibility criteria are expected to be relaxed and the number of beneficiaries expanded - ... District conducts a full survey of 3,424 households rejected in this year's social security benefit applications using a self-developed system... Simulates suitable households based on next year's criteria to provide advance guidance for benefit applications... Approximately 390 households and 547 individuals expected to benefit

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) is proactively identifying eligible individuals and guiding them to apply for welfare benefits in preparation for the relaxation of social security benefit selection criteria that will take effect next year.

A full survey will be conducted from December to February next year on 3,424 households that applied for social security benefits this year but were disqualified for not meeting the selection criteria.

According to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan for Basic Livelihood Security announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last September, the selection criteria for welfare benefits will be relaxed. Starting next year, the criteria will change, including an increase in livelihood benefits (30% → 32%), housing benefits (47% → 48%), an upward adjustment of the median income standard, relaxation of the medical benefits dependent obligation criteria, and improvements to the automobile asset criteria. The Ministry of Health and Welfare informs individuals (households) of necessary welfare services by analyzing income and assets through the Welfare Membership system; however, this applies only to membership subscribers and those selected as eligible, creating a blind spot for those who were deemed ineligible.

Therefore, the district plans to actively identify and assist those who were judged ineligible this year and might not apply next year due to unawareness of these changes in selection criteria, helping them with application guidance.

This initiative is made possible by the district’s independently developed and utilized ‘Integrated Data System for Social Security Benefit Investigator Decision.’ The 3,424 households that were disqualified this year’s application are classified into four categories: ▲ households disqualified in the 2023 social security benefit application ▲ households expected to meet the 2024 income recognition criteria among the disqualified ▲ households exceeding the automobile criteria among the disqualified ▲ households with severely disabled persons among those disqualified due to dependent obligation, ultimately identifying households expected to be eligible under the 2024 selection criteria.

According to this simulation, approximately 390 households comprising about 547 individuals among the disqualified are expected to receive the National Basic Livelihood Security next year. A similar rapid survey will also be conducted for the Basic Pension, whose selection criteria have not yet been announced.

Additionally, for the existing 426 near-poverty households registered in the Happiness Link system, income and assets are being individually investigated according to the changed criteria for next year to proactively inform them of potential benefits. If these near-poverty households are enrolled in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Welfare Membership, notifications are sent when income or asset changes occur; however, since welfare benefits are paid retroactively from the application date, earlier application is advantageous, prompting this proactive approach.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “Within the social security system where support is provided only upon application, we aim to find welfare blind spots with a proactive administrative mindset that identifies eligible individuals first. We will continue to enhance residents’ convenience through innovative administration that does not remain confined to existing frameworks.”

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