Monthly Increase of 7.34% for Single-Person Households, 6.42% for Four-Person Households
Separate Evaluation for Income and Asset Criteria
Raised Income and Obligated Supporter Standards
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will increase the livelihood benefits of the 'Seoul-type Basic Security System.' To eliminate welfare blind spots, the high-income and high-asset criteria for obligated supporters will be raised, and the age for additional deductions on elderly work and business income will be lowered.
On the 21st, Seoul announced that in accordance with the government's increase in the median income standard, the livelihood benefits of the 'Seoul-type Basic Security System' will be raised by up to 26,179 KRW (7.34%) per month for single-person households and 58,864 KRW (6.42%) for four-person households this year.
Launched in 2013 as the first basic security system among local governments nationwide, the 'Seoul-type Basic Security System' supports livelihood and childbirth/funeral benefits to non-beneficiary citizens who have a difficult living standard but do not qualify for government protection under the National Basic Livelihood Security System (livelihood, medical, housing benefits).
Until now, the selection criterion was set at 48% or less of the median income, but with the income standard raised, single-person households earning 1,148,166 KRW or less and four-person households earning 2,926,931 KRW or less, meeting the asset criterion of 155 million KRW or less and the obligated supporter criteria, can be guaranteed as beneficiaries.
The benefit amounts have also increased. The livelihood benefits under the Seoul-type Basic Security System have risen by 7.34% for single-person households (monthly maximum from 356,551 KRW in 2024 to 382,730 KRW in 2025) and by 6.42% for four-person households (monthly maximum from 916,786 KRW in 2024 to 975,650 KRW in 2025). Additionally, to eliminate welfare blind spots, the Seoul-type Basic Security System will also pursue ▲raising the high-income and high-asset criteria for obligated supporters ▲lowering the age for additional deductions on elderly work and business income ▲relaxing the automobile asset criteria.
Income and asset criteria have also been updated to reflect reality. Previously, those with obligated supporters earning over 100 million KRW annually or owning general assets exceeding 900 million KRW were excluded from the Seoul-type Basic Security System, but these criteria have been adjusted to 130 million KRW in annual income or 1.2 billion KRW in general assets. Furthermore, for elderly individuals aged 75 or older, 200,000 KRW was deducted from work and business income with an additional 40% deduction; starting this year, the eligible age has been lowered to 65 to encourage active economic participation among the elderly.
Kim Hong-chan, Director of Welfare Policy at Seoul City, said, "With the expanded selection criteria for the Seoul-type Basic Security System this year, we will be able to discover and support even one more person who is in a welfare blind spot." He added, "We will continue to closely examine welfare systems and make improvements and adjustments to fit reality, creating a strong and detailed welfare safety net that protects Seoul citizens."
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