Monthly livelihood benefits for four-person households to rise by up to 140,000 won next year

The maximum monthly livelihood benefit for a four-person household in South Korea will rise by 140,000 won next year, reaching 2.22 million won.

The increase follows a record 6.7% rise in the standard median income used to set eligibility for welfare payments. The government will expand the combined budget for livelihood, medical, housing and education benefits to 27.1 trillion won, up 4.7 trillion won from this year.

The plan also removes the requirement to consider family members’ ability to support severely disabled recipients of livelihood and medical benefits. Disability pensions and support for senior employment will increase as well, with the number of senior jobs set to reach 1.18 million.

The Ministry of Planning and Budget said the measures formed part of the 2027 budget proposal approved at a Cabinet meeting on Sept. 1. The government said it aimed to strengthen income support for low-income households as economic gains spread unevenly across social groups.