Definition of the Most Severe Disabilities and Activation of Support System from 2024... Expansion of Weekly Activity Service Hours and Abolition/Reduction of Activity Support Deduction
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The government has decided to expand the weekly activity service hours for people with developmental disabilities and to operate a 24-hour support system for those with the most severe developmental disabilities. The budget for supporting people with developmental disabilities next year will be 252.8 billion won, an increase of 21.5% compared to this year.
On the 29th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the "Measures to Strengthen Lifetime Care for People with Developmental Disabilities" through deliberation and resolution at the '2022 Disability Policy Coordination Working Committee.' The plan includes providing integrated care services to those with the most severe developmental disabilities who require intensive care and guaranteeing daytime activities tailored to the individual characteristics of people with developmental disabilities.
The support measures for people with developmental disabilities are also included in the government's national agenda. Under the name "Realizing a society without boundaries between disabled and non-disabled through customized integrated support for the disabled," the plan aims to expand a 24-hour care model for the most severe developmental disabilities, developmental disability hub hospitals, and early disability detection infrastructure.
Starting with the Definition of 'Most Severe Disability'... Expansion of Weekly Activities
First, to operate a 24-hour care support system for people with the most severe developmental disabilities, the government plans to establish definitions and selection criteria for the most severe developmental disabilities and develop specialized services starting next year. The goal is to provide integrated care services to this group by June 2024 through the enactment of subordinate legislation. The pilot project for 24-hour care support for the most severe developmental disabilities currently underway in Gwangju from this year to 2024 will be expanded after evaluation.
The unit cost will also be increased to ensure that people with the most severe developmental disabilities can smoothly use activity support services and weekly activity services. Activity support services involve activity supporters visiting the homes of disabled individuals to assist with physical activities and mobility, while weekly activity services support people with developmental disabilities visiting service providers in small groups to engage in daily life, hobbies, and leisure activities. The government will link additional support from local governments for activity support services for the most severe disabled and expand the target and unit cost of additional allowances paid to activity supporters providing services to the most severe disabled. While this year 4,000 people received 2,000 won per hour, next year it will increase to 6,000 people receiving 3,000 won per hour. When providing one-on-one weekly activity services for people with the most severe developmental disabilities, an additional unit cost of 7,780 won (previously 7,400 won) will be supported.
The weekly activity service usage time for all people with developmental disabilities will be expanded starting next year. Previously, the shortened type allowed 4 hours per day and the basic type 5 hours and 30 minutes, but this will increase to 6 hours per day. For the extended service, the time will be extended from 7.5 hours to 8 hours per day. When people with developmental disabilities use weekly activity services, the amount of activity support service benefits that were deducted will be reduced or abolished. Until now, the basic type deducted 22 hours per month and the extended type 56 hours per month of activity support, but next year the deduction for the basic type will be abolished and the extended type deduction will be reduced to 22 hours.
The "Emergency Care Pilot Project," which provides 24-hour care for one week in urgent situations such as hospitalization or family events of caregivers, is scheduled to be implemented from April next year.
Disability Pension Increased by 3.7%, Disability Allowance Raised by 20,000 Won
To ensure income security for people with developmental disabilities, the disability pension will increase by 3.7% (14,450 won) to 401,950 won next year. The disability allowance will rise from 40,000 won to 60,000 won per month. The disability pension is paid to severely disabled persons aged 18 or older under the Disability Pension Act who fall within the bottom 70% income bracket. The disability allowance is provided to basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups who do not qualify as severely disabled.
The plan also includes measures to strengthen early detection and support for disabilities. To facilitate early detection, the government will expand the support target for detailed developmental disability examination fees from the bottom 70% to 80% of health insurance subscribers. Accordingly, the number of beneficiaries is expected to increase from 5,938 this year to 6,252 next year. For systematic medical support, two additional developmental disability hub hospitals and behavioral development promotion centers will be established, and public children's rehabilitation hospitals and centers will be opened sequentially.
Additionally, the government plans to expand the pilot project participants for self-reliance support for people with developmental disabilities from 200 to 400 and increase psychological and emotional support for families of people with developmental disabilities.
To implement these measures, the government has set the budget for people with developmental disabilities next year at 252.8 billion won, a 21.5% increase compared to this year. Lee Ki-il, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "We will continue to expand support services for people with developmental disabilities through increased budgets," and added, "The mid- to long-term implementation plan will be strengthened through the '6th Comprehensive Disability Policy Plan' to be announced early next year."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
