Paju City "Increase in Basic Pension Eligibility Threshold Likely to Expand Beneficiary Pool"

Starting this year, the basic pension eligibility criteria have been significantly raised, which is expected to increase the number of elderly recipients of the basic pension in Paju City. The 2025 basic pension eligibility criteria are set at a monthly income of 2.28 million KRW for single-person households and 3.648 million KRW for couple households, representing an increase of 150,000 KRW and 240,000 KRW respectively compared to last year.

Paju City Hall exterior. Provided by Paju City

As a result, some elderly individuals who previously could not receive the basic pension due to exceeding the recognized income limit will now be able to receive welfare benefits.

Applying for the basic pension is mandatory, and applications can be submitted regardless of the applicant’s address at any local administrative welfare center (eup, myeon, dong), National Pension Service branch, or through the Bokjiro website.

For elderly individuals with mobility difficulties, the National Pension Service operates a ‘Visiting Service.’ Elderly applicants who wish to apply can request assistance through the National Pension Service Customer Center, and staff will visit their homes to help with the application process.

Elderly individuals who turn 65 can apply for the basic pension starting one month before their birth month. For example, those born in April 1960 can apply from March 1 and begin receiving benefits from April.

As of December 2024, out of approximately 83,500 elderly residents in Paju City, about 56,700 are basic pension recipients. However, with the recent increase in the recognized income criteria, it is expected that more elderly individuals will receive the basic pension.

Woo Eun-jeong, Director of the Senior and Disabled Division, stated, “We will focus on actively promoting the basic pension application process to ensure that no one misses out on benefits due to unawareness of the changed eligibility criteria.”