Government Extends Heating Cost Coupon Usage Period by 6 Months... Identifying Welfare Blind Spots

3rd Heating Cost Support Measures Execution TF

The government will extend the usage period of heating cost coupons for vulnerable groups by six months and strengthen efforts to identify blind spots in gas bill welfare support.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it held the 3rd 'Heating Cost Support Measures Execution TF' meeting chaired by Cheon Young-gil, Director of the Energy Policy Office, to discuss these agenda items. Specifically, the agenda included ▲ institutional improvement plans to eliminate blind spots in gas bill welfare discounts ▲ extension of the usage period of kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) heating cost support cards and coupons by six months ▲ current status of heating cost support measures implementation.

First, the usage period of kerosene and LPG heating cost cards and coupons for basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income households will be extended from the original deadline of next month 30th to December 31st. Accordingly, kerosene and LPG suppliers must submit collected coupons to the administrative welfare centers by January 15th of next year, and energy purchase cost settlements for separately purchased energy by recipients will be accepted through the administrative welfare centers from that date onward.

Information sharing on beneficiaries will be strengthened to eliminate welfare blind spots. To prevent cases where eligible urban gas bill discount recipients are unable to receive benefits due to mobility difficulties or limited access to information, related agencies plan to secure relevant information. Institutional improvements such as revising related laws will be pursued to identify welfare beneficiaries, and a permanent collaboration system will be established for information sharing between the Korea Gas Corporation and the Korea Energy Agency.

Additionally, to support heating costs by heating suppliers, the execution TF and working-level meetings were held to share information among agencies, promote support for vulnerable groups, and resolve difficulties for smooth assistance. The expanded heating cost support implementation during the last winter season was also reviewed. Currently, urban gas companies have ended the application period and are deducting charges from March bills, while the Korea District Heating Corporation and the Korea District Energy Association are accepting applications until the 31st.

Meanwhile, the Heating Cost Support Measures Execution TF is a consultative body chaired by Director Cheon since February, involving support agencies such as the Korea Energy Agency, Korea Gas Corporation, Korea District Heating Corporation, Korea Urban Gas Association, and Korea District Energy Association. It was established to prevent confusion among related agencies regarding heating cost support for vulnerable groups and to prepare a cooperative system.