National basic livelihood security

Through this system, the Korean government guarantees the basic livelihood of low-income citizens. Recipients may be provided with benefits such as basic livelihood grants, housing subsidies, education subsidies, medical aid, and systematic self-support services. Marriage migrants or people who are raising a minor of Korean nationality are entitled to these benefits.

• Qualifications

  Any foreigner who meets the following conditions as well as all the requirements in terms of the ① reported income and the ② dependent obligor is eligible to receive the basic livelihood subsidy.

  • Foreigners who have been registered and have lived in Korea, been married to Korean citizens and are expecting or raising a Korean child who is a minor (including cases of divorce and the death of a spouse)
  • Foreigners who live with the parents or grandparents of spouses who are Korean citizens Foreigners who do not meet the above qualifications may not apply for basic livelihood security aid. If there is a Korean citizen in the family of foreigners, the Korean citizen may be the beneficiary of basic livelihood security aid, provided that he or she meets the standards for the amount of income acknowledged.

  ① The reported household income (the amount calculated by adding the amount of household income to the amount of income-translated property) is below the standard (certain percentage of the standard median income*) for beneficiaries.

  • - (2019) livelihood pay 30%, medical pay 40%, housing pay 44%, education pay 50%

  ② Those who do not have an obligator of support (direct family member, and spouse), those who have an obligator of support who is not able to support, or those who cannot receive support

  • - According to the revision of customized wage (July, 2015), education wage is not applicable based on the standard of the obligator of support / According to the first comprehensive plan for basic livelihood security (Aug. 2017), living housing aid is not applicable based on the standard of the obligator of support (Oct. 2018~)

• Support details

  Livelihood benefits: Provision of allowance for clothing, food, and fuel, and money and goods required for daily life

  • - Amount: Amount of the reported household income deducted from the minimum level of livelihood wage (30% of the median income)

  Housing aid: Provision of funds to cover rent, repair, & maintenance costs necessary for stable housing in consideration of residence, residential type, size of household, etc.

  • - Amount of cash benefits: Remunerated payments will be made for renting households based on the local average rent, number of household members, and recognized income. For households with their own homes, remunerated support for repair and maintenance cost will be given by classifying the repair need into minimal, moderate, or large-scale based on the recipient’s income.

  Educational aid: Coverage of admission fees, tuition, textbook costs, material costs, stationery costs, etc.

  • Elementary school students : Sub-textbook costs KRW 132,000/ Stationary costs KRW 71,000
  • Middle school students: Sub-textbook costs KRW 209,000 / Stationary costs KRW 81,000
  • High school students : Sub-textbook costs KRW 209,000/ Stationary costs KRW 81,000 / Textbook costs (Entire textbooks in the curriculum for the applicable grade) / Admission fees/tuition(Entire amount announced by the principal)

  Childbirth aid: Where a recipient gives birth to a baby (including an expected childbirth), KRW 600,000 is provided per child in cash

  Funeral aid: Where a recipient dies, KRW 750,000 is granted to cover funeral costs

• How to apply

  To apply for national basic living security benefits, visit your local eup, myeon or dong resident center and submit the application for (change of) social welfare services and benefits.

  • A government official will perform an evaluation to determine your eligibility.
  • You will be informed of your eligibility within 30 days; some cases may take as long as 60 days to process.

• Inquiries

  Health and Welfare Counseling Center 129