Foster Families and Children in Child Welfare Facilities Also Receive Benefits
The support targets for 'Cheonsa Support Fund' and 'I Dream Allowance,' representative projects of Incheon-type birth policy '1 Billion Plus I Dream (i dream),' are expected to be expanded.
According to Incheon City Council on the 5th, the partial amendment to the 'Ordinance on Low Birthrate Measures and Support in Incheon,' which was primarily proposed by Culture and Welfare Committee member Yoo Kyung-hee (Min, Bupyeong 2), passed the relevant standing committee review the day before.
The amendment mainly expands the payment targets of the Cheonsa Support Fund and I Dream Allowance for childbirth and childcare support to include children under protection in foster families and child welfare facilities.
The Cheonsa Support Fund, first implemented in June, provides 1.2 million KRW annually to children aged 1 to 7 born in Incheon. This is paid separately from the child allowance of 100,000 KRW per month, including national subsidies, which is given to children aged 0 to 7, and is funded by Incheon City's own budget.
The support target is children aged 1 to 7 who have resided in Incheon with either their father or mother for more than one year based on their birth date, starting with those born in 2023 who turn one this year.
The I Dream Allowance provides 150,000 KRW monthly from the year 2032, when children born in 2024 turn 8, until they reach 18 years old, totaling 19.8 million KRW. However, considering fairness with children born earlier, support will begin from children born in 2016 (8 years old), for whom child allowance will be discontinued this year, and the support targets will be gradually expanded each year to include those born in 2017, 2018, and so on.
The support amount is 50,000 KRW per month for children born between 2016 and 2019, 100,000 KRW per month for those born between 2020 and 2023, and 150,000 KRW per month for children born from 2024 onward. Applicants must have their resident registration and reside in Incheon with their child.
Assembly member Yoo said, "Children under protection in foster families and child welfare facilities were not included in the payment targets of the Cheonsa Support Fund and I Dream Allowance, which led to the push for ordinance amendment," adding, "We hope this will complement the blind spots in childbirth and childcare support and establish itself as a low birthrate countermeasure project."
The amendment is scheduled to be approved at the 2nd plenary session of the 297th extraordinary meeting on the 6th.
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