Children Without Birth Registration and Children of Unmarried Fathers to Have Easier Access to 'Child Allowance' Applications

Ministry of Health and Welfare Implements System Improvement Measures
Retroactive Support Provided Even if Applications Are Delayed Due to Disasters or Treatment

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The application procedure for child allowance for children of unmarried fathers is being improved, and retroactive support will be expanded in cases where applications are delayed due to unavoidable circumstances.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 6th that it will implement these institutional improvements to better protect child allowance beneficiaries and eliminate blind spots in child welfare.

Currently, child allowance is paid monthly at 100,000 KRW to children under the age of 8. In the case of unmarried fathers, the child's birth registration had to be processed through the court, and a DNA test result had to be submitted in order to apply for the child allowance. However, since confirming parentage takes about 2 to 4 weeks, and if the biological mother avoids birth registration or the child is born outside a medical institution making it difficult to obtain proof documents, the registration is delayed, causing inconvenience in applying for the child allowance.

With this institutional improvement, children of unmarried fathers can apply for the child allowance before birth registration without DNA test results if they have documents related to parentage confirmation or court procedures for birth registration. Also, applications can be made with only birth proof documents or documents submitted to the court for birth confirmation.

For children of unmarried fathers and biological mothers who have not registered the birth, after paying the child allowance, local governments will regularly check the progress of birth registration and child-rearing status. Additionally, the 'Birth Registration Support Task Force' will provide support for birth registration and connect necessary welfare services. Child protection measures will also be implemented if necessary.

Furthermore, in cases where the child allowance application is delayed due to disasters, hospitalization or quarantine caused by infectious diseases, or hospitalization treatment of newborns or mothers (including premature birth), the child allowance will be paid retroactively after review by the Child Welfare Deliberation Committee.

Child allowance applications can be made in person at any community service center nationwide regardless of the applicant's address. Applications are also possible through the online 'Bokjiro' or Government24 websites.