[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The Ministry of Health and Welfare will provide temporary livelihood support payments to 800,000 low-income households in blind spots who have become financially distressed due to COVID-19 through the 2021 supplementary budget. Along with support for care workers to prevent care gaps, the expansion of quarantine personnel will also be implemented.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 2nd that it has allocated a total budget of 1.2265 trillion KRW, including 406.6 billion KRW for temporary livelihood support payments to low-income households in blind spots facing difficulties such as job loss, business suspension, or closure due to COVID-19, as part of this supplementary budget (the 2nd customized damage support measure). Support is planned for 800,000 households, with 500,000 KRW paid per household. The eligibility criteria are households with income below 75% of the median income and property below 600 million KRW in metropolitan areas.
In addition, the temporary relaxation of emergency welfare support requirements will be extended for three months until June. The emergency welfare support system provides temporary and rapid support for living expenses, medical expenses, and housing costs to low-income households struggling to maintain their livelihood due to the death or disappearance of a main income earner, fire, business suspension, or closure. Currently, the government is implementing measures such as increasing the property standard for support from 1.88 billion KRW to 3.5 billion KRW in metropolitan areas. Also, while previously emergency welfare support could not be reapplied for the same reason within two years, this period will be reduced to three months.
Care support will also be strengthened. To prevent care gaps caused by COVID-19 and reduce the workload of workers, a budget of 26.6 billion KRW has been allocated to support 4,580 temporary staff at Dahamkke Care Centers (424 locations) and Community Child Centers (4,160 locations), and a budget of 10.8 billion KRW has been included in the supplementary budget to support 3,000 dedicated teachers for extended daycare classes.
Budgets for COVID-19 quarantine and response are also included. To prepare for the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and resurgence, 9,333 quarantine personnel will be deployed to 4,141 medical institutions and 4,033 elderly care facilities nationwide. Additionally, 1,032 personnel will be temporarily supported at 258 public health centers to ensure smooth operation of their infectious disease response functions. For this, additional budgets of 78.9 billion KRW and 12.3 billion KRW will be invested, respectively.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
