Songpa-gu to Provide Monthly Living Assistance Allowance of 70,000 Won to Low-Income Elderly Living Alone

Seogang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District

Songpa-gu Establishes Living Assistance Allowance for Low-Income Elderly Living Alone

Applications accepted from January at local community service centers based on resident registration… Payments scheduled for the 20th of each month

Seo Gang-seok, District Mayor, Leads Efforts to Expand Economic Support for Elderly Living Alone in Financial Hardship and Eliminate Welfare Blind Spots

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced the establishment of a “Living Assistance Allowance for Low-Income Elderly Living Alone” system as a support measure for socially vulnerable groups. Starting January this year, a monthly living assistance allowance of 70,000 KRW will be provided to legally recognized low-income elderly living alone.

“Expanding support for socially vulnerable groups” was the first directive from Seo Gang-seok after taking office as Songpa-gu mayor, reflecting the fundamental philosophy of the 8th local government administration to prioritize care for low-income groups, persons with disabilities, and marginalized populations in administrative policies.

In September, the district partially amended the Seoul Metropolitan Government Songpa-gu Ordinance on Supporting the Living Stability of Low-Income Residents and secured a budget of approximately 260 million KRW for the 2023 living assistance allowance for low-income elderly living alone.

Accordingly, the “Songpa-gu Living Assistance Allowance for Low-Income Elderly Living Alone” payment system was established.

The payment targets are low-income elderly living alone aged 65 or older residing in Songpa-gu. However, basic livelihood security recipients are excluded. From January, applications will be accepted at the resident’s local community service center, and after eligibility verification, 70,000 KRW will be paid monthly on the 20th.

Seo Gang-seok, Songpa-gu Mayor, stated, “We will continue to expand economic support and other assistance that realistically helps low-income elderly living alone who face difficulties in daily life. We will also strive to implement thorough welfare policies to ensure no resident is left behind, aiming to stabilize residents’ lives and improve their quality of life.”

Coal Briquette Sharing for Vulnerable Groups

Seocho-gu Uses Neighborly Donation Funds to Support 1,000 Vulnerable Households with 100,000 KRW Heating Cost Assistance

‘Seoripul Care SOS’ Project Also Supports Public Utility Bill Arrears Including City Gas Fees

Jeon Seong-su, District Mayor, “Collaborating with Local Businesses and Residents to Provide Various Support Measures for a Warm Winter”

#Song, a 75-year-old basic livelihood security recipient living in a vinyl greenhouse in Naegok-dong, rarely turns on the boiler even during the current severe cold. This is because prolonged cold waves and steep energy price hikes require much higher expenses than usual.

Seocho-gu is implementing multifaceted support for vulnerable groups facing difficulties such as increased heating costs.

First, heating cost assistance of 100,000 KRW will be provided to 1,000 vulnerable households using neighborly donation funds collected from residents and businesses.

At the end of last month, the district selected a total of 1,000 households recommended through community service centers from basic livelihood security recipients and low-income groups (those earning 120% or less of the median income), and plans to provide 100,000 KRW per household by mid-January.

In addition, the ‘Seoripul Care SOS’ project supports overdue public utility bills such as city gas fees for low-income vulnerable households requiring urgent assistance due to sudden unemployment or illness.

The support targets low-income households (earning 85% or less of the median income) facing crisis situations with public utility bills overdue for two months or more, risking electricity or gas disconnection, with support up to 300,000 KRW. To apply, households submit overdue public utility bill notices to their local community service center, consult with staff, and recipients are determined through a district office case meeting.

The district expects that this heating cost and public utility bill arrears support will help stabilize the lives of vulnerable groups to some extent.

Additionally, since November last year, the district has been conducting various projects under the ‘Seocho-gu Winter Welfare Blind Spot Crisis Household Discovery and Support Plan’ to help vulnerable groups have a warm winter. These include support for 400 cold-vulnerable households with boilers, water heaters, electric blankets, and winter clothing; provision of kimchi and rice to 4,700 households; coal briquette support for 120 households; installation of safety equipment for elderly during winter as part of the Safe Home Project for residential environment improvement; distribution of a guidebook titled ‘How to Find Crisis Households’ to help residents easily assist neighbors in welfare blind spots; and monitoring through welfare calls and home visits.

Jeon Seong-su, Seocho-gu Mayor, said, “We are very grateful to be able to give warm gifts to neighbors suffering from the cold with the precious donations received so far. We will continue to collaborate with businesses and residents to prepare various support measures so that all residents can spend a safe and warm winter.”