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Support for Single-Parent Families

In recent years, the number of single-parent families has been increasing due to divorce,death, and financial difficulties. The government has developed and currently operatesdiverse support programs for the stability and wellbeing of single-parent families.

01 Types of Services

(1) Assistance for childcare expenses, etc. for single-parent families

Assistance for childcare expenses, etc. for single-parent families
Items	Descriptions
Descriptions	Children who are younger than 18 years old of age and raised by single parent with low income (ratioof the medium income to recognized amount of income: 52% and less) are eligible; provided, if thechild is in school, the child shall be younger than 22 years old of age in order to be eligible; if the childperformed military services during his or her schooling years, the duration of his or her military servicesshall be added to the age limits for eligibility. Single-parent family certificate issuance qualification: below 60% of the median income
Support contents	Childcare expenses: Children below 18 years, monthly assistance of KRW 200,000 Livelihood Benefits support for children below 18 years raised by a single parent: grant of KRW 100,000 per month Additional childrearing expenses : For children raised by grandparents or single parent (over 35 years old and not married), an additional KRW 50,000 is provided per child, if the child is below full 5 years For children 5 years old or below raised by a single parent aged 25-34: additional KRW 100,000 provided per child For children 6 years old or above raised by a single parent aged 25-34: additional KRW 50,000 provided per child Child education expenses (school supplies): grant of KRW 83,000 per year for each middle or high school student Supplementary living allowance: grant of KRW 50,000 per month for eligible single-parent families
Households excluded from support	Childcare expenses, additional childcare expenses, Livelihood Benefits (supplementary living allowance) If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the National Basic Livelihood Security Act Childcare expenses (KRW 100,000 per month) and additional childcare expenses granted starting May 2021 If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the Emergency Welfare Support Act If receiving domestic foster care subsidy in accordance with the Child Welfare Act Child education expenses (school supplies) Educational benefits according to the National Basic Livelihood Security Act Educational support according to the Welfare Law for Persons with Disabilities Educational support according to the Emergency Welfare Support Act

Standards for Countable Household Income Eligible for Single Parent Family Support Act (as of 2021)

(Unit: KRW / Month)

Standards for Countable Household Income Eligible for Single Parent Family Support Act (as of 2020)
Classification		2 members	3 members	4 members	5 members	6 members	Remark
Single parent and grandparentled family	52% of standard median income	1,605,801	2,071,654	2,535,671	2,993,834	3,446,874	Childcare expenses, etc. based on earning
Single parent and grandparentled family	60% of standard median income	1,852,847	2,390,370	2,925,774	3,454,424	3,977,162	Single-parent certificate issuance qualification

(2) Welfare Loans for Single-Parent Families

Financing for low-income residents was integrated into “Miso Financial Business” by the FinancialServices Commission as of 2016.
No new loans as of 2016 for financing of operating business for the low-income family
For more information: Korea Inclusive Finance Agency (☎1397, https://www.kinfa.or.kr)

(3) Support of single young parents seeking independence

Support of single young parents seeking independence
Items	Descriptions
Qualifications	The child’s mother or father is under the age of 24, and reported income is below 60% of the median income level. Single-parent family certificate issuance qualification: below 72% of the median income
Support	Childrearing expenses: KRW 350,000 worth of monthly support is provided per child for a young one-parent family household Livelihood Benefits support for children below 18 years raised by a single parent:grant of KRW 250,000 per month Study expenses for school qualification exams: KRW 1,540,000 worth of annual support is provided when a mother or a father of a young one-parent family studies for a qualification exam High school tuition: Support for admission fees and class expenses is provided for a mother or a father completing regular high school in a young one-parent family whose reported income is between 52% and 60% of the median income level Allowance for facilitating self-support: KRW 100,000 worth of monthly support is provided when a father or a mother of a young one-parent family engages in self-development activities such as study or employment
Households excluded from the support	Childcare expenses, supplementary living allowance If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the National Basic Livelihood Security Act Childcare expenses (KRW 250,000 per month) and additional childcare expenses granted starting May 2021 If receiving Livelihood Benefits in accordance with the Emergency Welfare Support Act If receiving domestic foster care subsidy in accordance with the Child Welfare Act Child education expenses (school supplies), study expenses for school qualification exams Educational benefits according to the National Basic Livelihood Security Act Education expenses according to the Welfare Law for Persons with Disabilities Educational support according to the Emergency Welfare Support Act

The standard for reported income for young one-parent families in 2021

The standard for reported income for young one-parent families in 2020
Classification		2 members	3 members	4 members	5 members	6 members	Remark
Youth and single-parent family	60% of standard median income	1,852,847	2,390,370	2,925,774	3,454,424	3,977,162	Childcare expenses, etc. based on earning
Youth and single-parent family	72% of standard median income	2,223,417	2,868,444	3,510,929	4,145,309	4,772,594	Single-parent certificate issuance qualification

02 How to Apply

Visit eup, myeon or dong community service center of residence of the householder for counseling orapplication. Online application is also available at online.bokjiro.go.kr
Applicants who qualify for support after household and income inspection is completed by the city,gu, or gun of the residential area, will be notified by mail.
Counseling and inquiry: One-parent counseling call (☎1644-6621), online counseling (website ofthe Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, www.mogef.go.kr [Single Parent] menu)

I have divorced my husband.
I don't know how I'm going to support myself. Is there any way I can get help?

If your child has Korean nationality and your income is not enough to support you and your child, then youare eligible to be a beneficiary of welfare services or national basic living security. Whether or not you canbe a beneficiary of this program is determined by the public official in charge, based on the results of anofficial evaluation of income, assets, etc. If you are faced with an emergency situation, you can apply foremergency welfare services. For more information and to determine which program is right for you, pleasecontact your local community service center (eup, myeon, dong), or the Health and Welfare Call Center(☎129), or One-parent Call Canter (☎1644-6621). If you are unable to communicate in Korean, please enlistthe help of a Korean speaker in order to receive counseling.

Foreign mother or father of single-parent households supported by the Single-Parent Family Support Act residing in Korea (foreigners who have completed alien registration as per Article 31 of the Immigration Control Act) and who is raising children of Korean nationality on her/his own.

Useful Information

Service for Child Rearing Expenses

This comprehensive service will provide counseling, negotiation, legal filing, claim recovery, ormeasures so that a parent raising a child after divorce or a single parent with a child can receivestable child support from the other parent.

Qualifications

Parent or grandparent raising a child under the age of 19 pursuant to 「Act on Enforcing andSupporting Child Support Payment」
Parent or grandparent raising a child pursuant to 「Single-parent Family Support Act」
- If child is in college, support until the child becomes 22 years old (for child returning to the collegeafter military service, 22 years + military service period)
- For multicultural family or a family in which one parent is an immigrant, if the child has citizenship ofthe Republic of Korea, he/she can receive support.

Descriptions

Telephone counseling, online counseling, and personal counseling related to child support
Support for negotiation between parties related to child support
Support for legal procedures such as lawsuits for child support
Support for claiming bonds of child support
Taking measures against those who default on payment of child support
Monitoring of the progress
Support of emergency expenses for childcare

Support of emergency expenses for childcare

When there is the risk that a child may not grow in a healthy environment due to delayedpayment of child support, emergency child rearing expenses will be provided on atemporary basis.

Support conditions
- Creditor of child rearing expenses who applied for service of performance to the ChildSupport Agency
- Having continued difficulty even if livelihood aid was received under the Emergency Aidand Support Act of the Ministry
- The household income is at or below 50% of the median income, or applicant isthe target of the one parent family support according to Article 5 of the Single-Parent Family Support Act
- No one is receiving livelihood aid according to the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
Support amount: KRW 200,000 monthly per child (KRW 100,000 monthly if alreadyreceiving child rearing expenses under the Single-Parent Family Support Act)
Support period: Nine months (can be extended by three months if necessary)

All of the above conditions should be met to obtain support.

How to Use

Telephone counseling : ☎1644-6621
Online counseling : www.childsupport.or.kr
Counseling by visiting : Suite 508, the Public Procurement Service, 217, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Appointment)

Application must be made online, by mail, or in person.
If interpretation is required, call Danuri Helpline ☎1577-1366 for more information.

본 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원'에서 '2020년' 작성하여 공공누리 제4유형으로 개방한 '한국생활가이드북'을 이용하였으며, 해당 저작물은 '한국건강가정진흥원, www.kihf.or.kr' 에서 무료로 다운받으실 수 있습니다.