Suwon's Disability Welfare Set for Major Overhaul

Next year, Suwon's many people with disabilities are expected to find hope in life through enhanced welfare benefits.

Suwon City announced on the 22nd that it will implement groundbreaking income security policies for people with disabilities, aimed at reducing the economic burden on households with disabled members facing financial hardship.

According to the city, the 2005 disability survey found that the average monthly income of households with disabled members was 1.57 million won, representing only 52% of the average 3.02 million won for non-disabled households. Additionally, an average of 160,000 won per capita is spent monthly on disability-related expenses such as transportation and medical costs, making "income security" the priority welfare initiative to promote.

Accordingly, starting next year, the disability allowance for severely disabled individuals receiving basic livelihood security assistance will be increased significantly from the current 70,000 won to 130,000 won monthly, while mildly disabled individuals will see their disability allowance increased from 20,000 won to 30,000 won monthly.

Furthermore, starting next year, in addition to those currently receiving allowances, severely disabled individuals will newly receive 120,000 won monthly in disability allowance, while mildly disabled individuals will receive 30,000 won monthly.

Additionally, the disability child support allowance, which previously was provided only to parents with grade 1 disabled children among basic livelihood security recipients, will be expanded starting next year to support all disabled children's households at or below the lower-middle income level regardless of the child's disability grade. The scope of disability child support allowance recipients is being significantly expanded.

Support amounts will increase 1.5 to 3 times compared to this year. Those receiving 70,000 won monthly currently will receive 200,000 won monthly for severely disabled children among basic livelihood recipients, 150,000 won monthly for severely disabled children in lower-middle income households, and 100,000 won monthly for mildly disabled children as disability child support allowance.

Another improvement beginning next year is a selective welfare system providing low-income severely disabled individuals with either activity assistance services or partial support for paid nursing facility admission fees.

The 22,000 low-income disabled individuals with severe disabilities who find it difficult to move independently can receive activity assistance services by directly selecting an activity assistant, while those who cannot rely on family help are expected to improve quality of life and reduce family caregiving burden by receiving partial support for paid nursing facility admission costs.

In addition, the city plans to expand public transportation for disabled individuals to use at lower costs and improve pedestrian environments dramatically so disabled people can venture outdoors with confidence.

To achieve this, the city plans to properly manage disability welfare initiatives funded entirely by national treasury and significantly secure funding from the government's disability welfare budget to be allocated to Suwon City for income security for people with disabilities.