Disability Child Allowance Now Paid Automatically
Following Legal Amendment, No Separate Application Needed
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 27th that children with disabilities who receive basic livelihood security benefits or medical benefits will automatically receive a disability child allowance of up to 220,000 won per month without a separate application.
The disability child allowance is a cash benefit provided to registered children with disabilities under the age of 18 who are recipients of the National Basic Livelihood Security Program or are in the near-poor group (those with an income at or below 50% of the median income). Depending on the degree of disability and income group, the monthly payment ranges from 30,000 to 220,000 won. As of the end of last year, there were a total of 17,618 children with disabilities receiving this benefit.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 27th that children with disabilities receiving basic livelihood security benefits or medical benefits will automatically receive a disability child allowance of up to 220,000 won per month without a separate application. Yonhap News
Because the disability child allowance was only paid when the child or their parents directly applied, there were cases where recipients of livelihood or medical benefits did not receive the allowance simply because they had not applied. In response, the government revised the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act to enable automatic payment of this allowance, and the new system has been in effect since the 22nd.
Eun Sungho, Director General of Population and Social Services Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated, "In addition to children with disabilities who receive livelihood or medical benefits, we will work with local governments to promote the system and provide guidance on applications to ensure that all eligible recipients receive the disability child allowance without omission."
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