2.8 Million Households Including Basic Livelihood Security Recipients to Receive 'Emergency Disaster Relief Fund' Cash Payments Starting from the 4th

100,000 KRW for 4-Person Households... Received in Welfare Benefit Account Without Separate Application

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will provide 'Emergency Disaster Relief Funds' in cash starting from the 4th to households receiving urgent support through the Basic Livelihood Security Livelihood Benefit, Basic Pension, and Disability Pension.

For citizens who are not eligible for cash payments, from the 11th, they can apply for point charging on their existing credit or debit cards, and from the 18th, they can apply for local love gift certificates or prepaid cards at their town, township, or neighborhood community service centers or local treasury banks.

On the 3rd, Yoon Jong-in, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, held a briefing at the Government Sejong Complex, stating, "To secure the livelihood of citizens struggling due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, we will provide 1 million KRW for a family of four to 21.71 million households nationwide," and explained the application and payment methods by payment means.

First, from 9 a.m. on the 4th, household heads can check their status and the number of household members on the 'Emergency Disaster Relief Fund Inquiry Service' website. The inquiry service operates on a day-of-the-week system based on the last digit of the household head's birth year, similar to the five-day mask distribution system, and on weekends, all citizens can use the service regardless of birth year.

For approximately 2.8 million households that are recipients of the Basic Livelihood Security Livelihood Benefit, Basic Pension, or Disability Pension and simultaneously meet the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund household criteria, cash will be paid from the 4th without separate application or visits, using the account numbers already utilized in the existing welfare delivery system.

This accounts for about 13% of the total eligible households. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained that the scale is somewhat larger than the initially expected 2.7 million households because the number of households receiving overlapping benefits such as livelihood benefits or basic pensions was lower than anticipated.

The payment amounts are 400,000 KRW for a single-person household, 600,000 KRW for a two-person household, 800,000 KRW for a three-person household, and 1 million KRW for households of four or more.

Cash payment recipients can generally check the receipt of cash from the accounts where welfare benefits are currently paid after 5 p.m. on the 4th, though the timing may vary depending on the conditions of each local government. The government has especially ensured that for cash payment recipients, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' decision on the 1st, the Emergency Disaster Relief Funds will be paid into 'seizure-protected accounts' to ensure smooth cash payments.

However, if cash is not paid by the 4th due to account errors, the relevant local governments plan to promptly verify and complete payments by the 8th.

Citizens not eligible for cash payments can apply for point charging on their credit or debit cards from the 11th. Additionally, from the 18th, they can apply for local love gift certificates or prepaid cards at their town, township, or neighborhood community service centers or local treasury banks.

Vice Minister Yoon said, "This cash payment is intended to urgently support citizens facing livelihood difficulties," adding, "We hope that the Emergency Disaster Relief Funds will be appropriately used where citizens need them most and help support their livelihoods."