Pohang City Begins Distribution of COVID-19 'Emergency Living Expenses'... Up to 800,000 KRW per Household

On the 1st, a resident is sitting and filling out documents to apply for emergency disaster living expenses due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at the Ocheon-eup Administrative Welfare Center in Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk announced on the 6th that it has started distributing 'Emergency Disaster Living Expenses' in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

This measure follows the support policy for households with less than 85% of the median income in Gyeongsangbuk-do and is emergency funds provided separately from the government's disaster relief funds.

In the Pohang area, where a budget of 38 billion KRW is invested, support will begin with 99 households whose property income investigations have been completed, targeting approximately 61,700 households with less than 85% of the median income. Basic livelihood security recipients, unemployment benefit recipients, low-income temporary living support project recipients, national and local government officials, teachers, and public institution employees are excluded.

The emergency living expenses will be provided in the form of 'Pohang Love Gift Certificates' amounting to 500,000 KRW for single-person households, 600,000 KRW for two-person households, 700,000 KRW for three-person households, and 800,000 KRW for four-person households.

Pohang City has set up about 350 reception desks at administrative welfare centers in towns, townships, and neighborhoods of the registered addresses and deployed a TF team to support rapid payment.

Meanwhile, other cities and counties in Gyeongbuk Province besides Pohang City are also expected to begin distributing emergency living expenses one after another. Seongju County has already started payments since the application start date on the 1st.

Earlier, Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 31st of last month that it had allocated 208.9 billion KRW in emergency disaster living expenses to support residents in crisis due to COVID-19, planning to distribute local love gift certificates, Onnuri gift certificates, and prepaid cards to 335,000 households with less than 85% of the median income in 23 cities and counties according to local conditions.