Home Care Workers Can Apply for '500,000 Won Per Person' Support Fund Starting from the 25th

One-Time Support Fund Online Application Begins
Support for 90,000 Visiting Care Workers and Others

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service under the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 24th that it will accept online applications for the 'Temporary Support Fund for Visiting Care Workers' from the 25th of this month until the 5th of next month.

This project provides 500,000 KRW per person to 90,000 visiting care workers and after-school instructors. After reviewing employment and income conditions, the payments will be made uniformly starting next month. The funding comes from the Workers' Welfare Promotion Fund designated donations.

Director Kang Soonhee explained, "This support fund aims to alleviate, even slightly, the difficulties faced by visiting care workers engaged in essential tasks who are experiencing economic hardships due to COVID-19."

The eligible recipients are workers in seven types of visiting (home-based) care services such as home care services and after-school instructors. Workers in these occupations can receive the support fund regardless of employment insurance enrollment or business registration status.

However, employment and income requirements must be met. Specifically, as of the announcement date of the employment requirement project on the 15th, applicants must be engaged in eligible work and have worked at least 60 hours per month for six or more months last year.

The annual income must be 10 million KRW or less based on 2019. However, for new workers last year, they must enter their income for last year and submit supporting documents such as withholding tax receipts issued by the providing institution.

If the number of applicants exceeds the budget, priority will be given to low-income individuals based on 2019 annual income.

This fund cannot be received concurrently with the 3rd Emergency Employment Security Support Fund. In case of duplicate applications, the 3rd support fund will be paid first.

Those participating in the National Employment Support System cannot receive the job promotion allowance from the employment support system in the same month they receive the temporary support fund.

The temporary support fund can only be applied for online through the Workers' Welfare Service website. Applications will be accepted on a five-day rotation basis from the 25th to the 29th. Applicants can only apply on the designated day according to the last digit of their birth year.

Necessary information can be confirmed through the dedicated call center (1644-0083) and the Workers' Welfare Service website.