Winter Energy Voucher Support Amount for Low-Income Households Increased by 9,000 Won

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The government will increase the winter energy voucher support amount by an average of 9,000 KRW per recipient household to alleviate the burden on low-income households due to recent energy price hikes.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 25th that the average support amount for winter energy voucher recipient households will be raised from 109,000 KRW to 118,000 KRW, an increase of 9,000 KRW.

By household size, 1-person households will receive 96,500 KRW, 2-person households 136,500 KRW, 3-person households 169,500 KRW, and 4-person households 194,500 KRW, respectively. The increased amount can be used starting from 9 a.m. on the 26th.

The energy voucher program is designed to support energy-vulnerable groups by covering energy costs for heating and cooling during summer and winter. The program targets 878,000 households, including elderly, disabled, infants, pregnant women, patients with severe, rare, or intractable diseases, single-parent families, and youth-headed households among recipients of livelihood and medical benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act.

The winter energy vouchers can be used until the end of April and can be utilized either by payment with a physical card during the usage period or by deduction from bills issued within the usage period.

Due to the increase in support amount, an additional budget of 7.9 billion KRW is expected to be required.

For more details, please check with local town, township, and neighborhood administrative welfare centers nationwide, the energy voucher call center, or the energy voucher website.