Vulnerable Groups Below Basic Livelihood Security Eligibility Remain... Need to Strengthen Identification and Support
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] #Mr. Kang, who lives in Yaksu-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, is a solitary elderly person who recently closed the restaurant he operated. This was because business was poor and his debt greatly increased. Currently, his main income is only the basic pension, but his recognized property income exceeds the standard, making it difficult to receive basic livelihood benefits. Jung-gu recently visited Mr. Kang, who was experiencing difficulties, conducted counseling, and began support through connections with private sponsors.
#For Ms. Lee, who is battling ovarian cancer, meal support was connected through Care SOS, and for elderly Mr. Kim, who lives alone and is unemployed, a safe job was provided. In May, a total of 69 welfare crisis households in the district received help through comprehensive counseling.
Despite sudden economic crises, Jung-gu, Seoul, has identified and begun managing welfare crisis households that do not meet income and property standards and thus cannot receive basic livelihood benefits.
During May, Jung-gu conducted home visits and comprehensive counseling for crisis households and sought ways to provide support. The need to strengthen the identification and support of vulnerable groups who suffer various accidents due to not meeting the basic benefit selection criteria despite difficult circumstances has emerged as a social issue.
Accordingly, the district started counseling activities targeting those excluded from basic benefit selection and those whose benefits were suspended each month, along with activities to identify those in existing welfare blind spots. Welfare planners visit these individuals, conduct counseling, guide them to other available welfare services, and assist with applications. In the counseling first implemented in May, 14 cases of public support and 18 cases of private sponsorship connections were made, achieving initial success, and monitoring will continue for 10 of these households.
The district plans to continue conducting regular monthly counseling for those excluded from or suspended in basic livelihood benefits and will strengthen welfare counseling for investigation targets notified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare through the Social Security Information System.
A district official stated, "Despite continuously identifying and supporting welfare blind spots, tragic incidents such as solitary deaths and family deaths continue socially," adding, "The district will do its best to ensure that crisis households are identified and supported using various methods with the goal of improving the welfare of local residents."
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