Gyeonggi Province Increases Settlement Allowance for Youth Aging Out of Care to Record 15 Million Won Nationally

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 26th that it has increased the self-reliance settlement allowance to support social adaptation and independence of youth aged 18 and older who are aging out of child welfare facilities or whose foster care arrangements are ending, from the existing 10 million won to 15 million won, the highest level nationally.

The self-reliance settlement allowance for youth aging out of care (care-leavers) is support funding for those aged 18 and older who have resided in child protection facilities within the province for two years or more (cumulative protection period eligible) and have lived in a residential facility, group home, or foster home for six months or more within six months before their mandatory discharge.

The province has increased the settlement allowance from 5 million won last year to 10 million won and to 15 million won this year, maintaining the highest amount nationally.

Eligible recipients can receive the allowance upon completion of mandatory education in the first phase (10 million won) and second phase (5 million won).

This year's eligible recipients number 410 in the first phase and 210 in the second phase.

The mandatory education, to be held 3-4 times monthly through the end of the year (35 sessions for phase one, 17 sessions for phase two), consists of content on economics and finance for youth aging out of care, consulting on the use of settlement allowance, and housing management.

For more information, please contact the Gyeonggi Province Self-Reliance Support Center, relevant city/county/district offices, or administrative welfare centers in your area.

Ji Ju-yeon, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Division of Women and Family, stated, "I hope the self-reliance settlement allowance will help alleviate the economic difficulties of youth aging out of care who must stand on their own with uncertain hearts after leaving care," and added, "Through mandatory education for self-reliance settlement, I hope they will systematically prepare for independence and settle stably in society."

Meanwhile, the province is conducting systematic monitoring of 2,000 youth within five years of discharge from child welfare facilities within the province through the Gyeonggi Province Self-Reliance Support Center, and has separately selected 240 youth aging out of care to provide integrated self-reliance support services covering six areas including employment, housing, and economic support that will be beneficial.