Reducing Cooling and Heating Cost Concerns for Vulnerable Groups Amid Heatwave... Yeongdeungpo-gu Increases Energy Voucher Support Amount

Energy Voucher Applications Open Until December... Active Support for Vulnerable Groups to Spend Summer and Winter Without Worries
Increased Summer Support Rates and 1-Month Extension of Voucher Usage Period to Ease Heating and Cooling Costs
Easy and Convenient Application via Local Community Centers or the Bokjiro Website Based on Resident Registration Address

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will increase the support amount for the ‘Energy Voucher’ to alleviate the cooling cost burden on vulnerable groups during the summer heatwaves.

The ‘Energy Voucher’ is a program that supports energy-vulnerable groups to have a cool summer and a warm winter by providing funds to purchase electricity, city gas, local cooling/heating, briquettes, and more.

In particular, this year, to ease the economic burden on vulnerable groups caused by the ongoing heatwaves, the district will increase the summer support amount by 15,000 KRW. The total support amount varies depending on the number of household members, with approximately 295,200 KRW provided for a single-person household.

Eligible recipients are households receiving livelihood, medical, housing, or education benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act, and if the applicant or any household member meets one of the following criteria: elderly (65 years or older), infants and young children (7 years or younger), persons with disabilities, pregnant women, patients with severe, rare, or intractable diseases, single-parent families, or children from child welfare families (including foster children).

The Energy Voucher can be used separately for summer and winter seasons. The summer period is from July 1 to September 30, and the winter period is from October 1 to May 25 of the following year. Any unused balance from the summer can be carried over to the winter, and the winter support amount can also be used in advance during the summer.

For usage, during the summer, the payment amount is automatically deducted through the electricity bill, while in winter, users can choose between automatic deduction of the payment or direct payment of energy sources (electricity, LPG, briquettes, etc.) using a physical card issued.

Applications for the Energy Voucher are open until December this year and can be submitted by visiting the local community service center at the registered address or through the Bokjiro website.

Meanwhile, the district is implementing various projects to provide energy welfare services to all residents without discrimination. In March, in preparation for the upcoming summer, the district expanded the support for ‘Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit Shade Installation’ from vulnerable groups to general households, targeting approximately 2,000 households in total.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “Due to the recent record-breaking heatwaves, residents are likely worried about cooling costs. We hope this project will ease the economic burden on residents, and we encourage eligible individuals to apply within the deadline to receive the benefits.”