Gyeonggi Province Disaster Basic Income Can Only Be Used at Your Registered Address

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Reactions from Gyeonggi Province residents to the disaster basic income program, which begins accepting applications on the 9th, are intense. It is true that there are many questions and points of confusion regarding this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis measure that provides 100,000 won per person to all residents regardless of income and age.

In response, Gyeonggi Province has begun identifying incorrect information about disaster basic income circulating online through blogs, cafes, and social media, and working to share accurate facts and truth.

First, there has been much false information about eligibility for Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income. Notable examples include "people with assets of 600 million won or more cannot receive Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income" and "recipients are all residents with household registration in Gyeonggi Province from March 23 to the application date."
Gyeonggi Province disaster basic income can be received by anyone who is a Gyeonggi Province resident with their registered residential 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 moved into or out of other cities or provinces between the reference date and the application date are not eligible.
Incorrect information has been shared such as "the age criterion for applications through a legal representative is under age 14" and "a separate letter of authorization is required when applying for an offline prepaid card on behalf of someone."
First, the age criterion for applications through a legal representative is not age 14 but minors under age 19, with the exception that in households composed only of minors, minors can apply directly.
When applying for a prepaid card on behalf of someone, personal information consent and power of attorney are included in the application form, so no separate power of attorney or certified seal impression certificate is required.

Additionally, there has been incorrect information related to 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."
The disaster basic income is aimed at revitalizing the local economy through increased sales of small and medium-sized merchants, and due to measures to prevent concentration in specific commercial areas, it can only be used in the city or county where the holder's household is registered. It can also be used at all merchants that accept general IC card payments, excluding businesses with annual sales of 1 billion won or more, department stores, large supermarkets, corporate supermarkets, entertainment and gambling establishments, and franchise headquarters locations.

There have also been misunderstandings about the disaster basic income system itself. These include opinions such as "if the province provides disaster basic income and collects more taxes, it's ultimately a shell game," "Gyeonggi Province will be buried under debt due to disaster basic income," and "all disaster funds will be spent on disaster basic income, leaving no money to respond to other disasters."
However, since local governments do not have tax authority, it is impossible for Gyeonggi Province to collect more taxes by implementing disaster basic income. Additionally, of the disaster basic income funding, the only substantial debt is the borrowed amount from the regional development fund (700 billion won), which is planned to be repaid over 5 years following a 3-year grace period, and according to the province, this falls within the normal scope of local government financial operations. Regarding disaster response, the budgeted project funds and mandatory reserve funds planned through the 2020 disaster management fund and disaster relief fund remain intact, so the province can respond adequately to any other disasters that occur.