Clarifying Misinformation and Facts About 'Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income'
Suwon NewsPublished 2020.04.08 06:26
Province compiles and explains incorrect information about disaster basic income widely circulated online through blogs, cafes, and social media servicesMultiple instances of false information and misconceptions regarding eligibility, application procedures, usage methods, and the system itself
[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 8th that it has undertaken efforts to identify and correct misinformation about disaster basic income circulating online through blogs, cafes, and social media services, and to provide accurate information and facts.
This initiative aims to clarify misconceptions and facts about disaster basic income, which will begin accepting applications starting on the 9th and will provide 100,000 won per person to all provincial residents regardless of income or age.
First, there has been considerable misinformation about eligibility. Representative examples include statements such as "people with assets of 600 million won or more cannot receive Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income" and "eligible recipients are all provincial residents registered in Gyeonggi Province from March 23 to the application date."
Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income can be received by any Gyeonggi Province resident who has had their registered address in Gyeonggi Province from before 24:00 on March 23, 2020 until the current application date, regardless of age, income, or assets. Those who transferred in or out of other provinces between the reference date and the application date are not eligible.
Regarding the application for disaster basic income, incorrect information has been circulating, such as "when applying offline, applications are also possible at the 'Livestock Cooperative' in addition to agricultural cooperatives," "the age criterion for applicants who must apply through a legal representative is under 14 years old," and "a separate power of attorney is required for offline prepaid card proxy applications."
However, when applying for a prepaid card offline, this is not possible at livestock cooperatives. Prepaid card applications can be submitted from April 20 to July 31 at the Administrative Welfare Center in the applicant's registered address district or at agricultural cooperative branches within the applicant's city or county. For example, if your registered address is 'Godeung-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon City,' you can apply at either the Godeung-dong Administrative Welfare Center or agricultural cooperative branches within Suwon City.
Additionally, the age criterion for applicants who must apply through a legal representative is not under 14 years old but minors under 19 years of age. As an exception, minors in households consisting of minors only can apply directly.
For proxy prepaid card applications, individual information provision consent and power of attorney are included in the application form, so separate powers of attorney and notarized seal certificates are not required.
Furthermore, there has been incorrect information regarding usage methods, such as "Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income can be used throughout all of Gyeonggi Province" and "local currency has too few affiliated merchants."
Disaster basic income is intended to revitalize the local economy through increased sales for local small and medium-sized businesses. To prevent concentration in specific commercial areas, it can only be used in the city or county where the holder's registered address is located. Additionally, it can be used at all merchants that accept general IC card payments, excluding businesses with annual sales exceeding 1 billion won, department stores, large supermarkets, corporate-format supermarkets, entertainment and gambling establishments, and franchise directly-operated outlets.
There have also been misconceptions about the disaster basic income system itself. Opinions such as "if the province provides disaster basic income while collecting more taxes, it is ultimately futile," "Gyeonggi Province will be buried in debt due to disaster basic income," and "disaster basic income will exhaust the disaster fund, leaving no money to respond to other disasters" were found.
However, since local autonomous entities have no tax authority, it is impossible for Gyeonggi Province to collect more taxes by implementing disaster basic income. Additionally, among the sources of funds for disaster basic income, the actual debt is only the borrowed amount from the regional development fund (700 billion won), which is planned to be repaid over five years with a three-year grace period. According to the province, this falls within the scope of typical local government financial management.
Regarding disaster response, the business budget and mandatory reserves planned for the 2020 Disaster Management Fund and Disaster Relief Fund remain intact, so there are no issues in responding to other disasters if they occur.
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