Suwon Eases Criteria for Emergency Living Expense Subsidy and Simplifies Paperwork

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 27th that eligibility standards for the 'Emergency Living Expense Subsidy' provided to low-income crisis households not covered by existing welfare programs or COVID-19 support projects have been relaxed.

The eligibility income criterion has been relaxed from 'household income reduced by 25% or more (due to COVID-19 job losses or business closures)' to 'those with reduced income'.

Eligible recipients for the Emergency Living Expense Subsidy are low-income crisis households with total household income at or below 75% of the median income standard and assets of 350 million won or less, whose household income has declined due to COVID-19-related job losses or business closures.

The documents required for application have been simplified. In addition to official income verification documents issued by the National Tax Service, applicants can apply without submitting a separate income reduction report if they can objectively verify income reduction through bank statement transaction history (income information confirmation) or other documents.

Daily workers and small business owners who were unable to apply due to difficulty proving income reduction with objective documents can now conveniently apply for the subsidy using bank statement transaction history and other evidence, which is expected to increase the number of applicants and beneficiaries.

The city plans to provide 'visiting services' utilizing community welfare councils and volunteer welfare civil servants to actively identify neighbors in need of assistance due to income reduction.

Wang Chul-ho, Head of the City's Self-governance Administration Division, said, "As the application procedure has been simplified and the application period has been extended, we will do our best to ensure that more citizens can receive support."

Applications for Emergency Living Expense Subsidy for crisis households can be submitted through the 'Bokjiro' website (http://www.bokjiro.go.kr) or mobile Bokjiro (m.bokjiro.go.kr) by the head of household.

Online applications can be made on weekends. However, on the final day, November 6th, applications are accepted until 6 p.m.

Applicants can visit their residential neighborhood administrative welfare centers for in-person applications from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Head of household, household members, or representatives can submit in-person applications at neighborhood administrative welfare centers.

After investigating income and assets, whether income has decreased, and duplicate benefits from existing welfare programs or COVID-19 support programs, payment eligibility will be determined considering priorities such as ▲those with income reduction of 25% or more ▲income reduction rate ▲urgent reasons due to COVID-19.

Payments will be made sequentially within budget from November to December. The support amount is 400,000 won for single-person households, 600,000 won for two-person households, 800,000 won for three-person households, and 1,000,000 won for households of four or more persons. Payment is made once via direct bank transfer.

For inquiries, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare Call Center (129), Suwon City Emergency Living Expense Subsidy Dedicated Call Center (031-228-4600), or your residential neighborhood administrative welfare center.