Gangbuk-gu to Abolish Livelihood Benefit Support Obligation Criteria Starting October

If Selection Criteria Are Met, Livelihood Benefits Provided Without Applying Support Obligation Standards... Economic Hardship Alleviation for Welfare Blind Spots and Crisis Households

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (Mayor Park Gyeom-su) will abolish the support obligation criteria for basic livelihood security living allowance starting from October.

The support obligation criteria is a system that considers the income and property levels of first-degree relatives such as parents and children together as a standard for selecting living allowance recipients.

Currently, the living allowance is provided only when there is no support obligor, or if there is an obligor but they lack the ability to support, or when support cannot be received. In practice, there were many cases where support was judged possible even though it was difficult to provide support.

To address this, the district has decided to abolish the support obligation criteria for all recipients starting in October. However, if the annual income of parents or children exceeds 100 million KRW or property (excluding financial assets) exceeds 900 million KRW, the original criteria will be applied.

Going forward, households eligible for the abolition of the support obligation criteria will be determined as living allowance recipients if the recognized income amount of their own household meets the selection criteria.

With this abolition, households previously eligible for welfare benefits but now confirmed to be eligible for living allowance will also be able to receive the allowance. Applicants can visit their local community service center.

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Ministry of Health and Welfare Counseling Center, Gangbuk-gu Office Life Security Division, or the local community service center.

Mayor Park Gyeom-su of Gangbuk-gu said, “With the abolition of the support obligation criteria in the basic livelihood security system, low-income households that have experienced economic difficulties but have not received support are expected to receive living allowances,” and added, “We will further identify and support vulnerable groups in the welfare blind spots who have not been protected within the system.”