Ahead of winter, the government will use data such as power and water shutoffs to identify households at risk of welfare crises and expand the eligibility for the energy voucher, which supports electricity, gas and heating costs.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 28th that it has established a plan to identify and support households at risk of welfare crises in the 2025-2026 winter season.
First, it will analyze big data on crisis information such as power and water shutoffs and arrears in health insurance premiums and phone bills, and will notify local governments of about 300,000 households where signs have been detected.
When cold wave or heavy snow advisories are issued, care support workers for the customized senior care service will check the safety of about 550,000 vulnerable seniors by phone or in person. In areas with high concentrations of homeless people, emergency sleeping places will be provided, and heating supplies such as sleeping bags and heat packs will be distributed. To prepare for meal gaps during winter break, children at risk of missing meals, including those from basic livelihood recipient, near-poverty and single-parent households, will be identified and provided with meal support.
The burden of heating costs for low-income households will also be eased. Up to 16,000 won per month for electricity bills and 148,000 won for city gas and district heating will be provided. Energy vouchers will also be provided to multi-child households among basic livelihood recipients. Heating costs will be supported during the winter for 69,000 senior community centers and 7,000 government-funded social welfare facilities used by children and people with disabilities,
In addition, the measures include: ▲interest rate reductions for Youth Sunshine Loan for low-income college students ▲free vaccinations for respiratory diseases ▲support for stabilizing the livelihoods of households in crisis.
Minister Jung Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "We will actively support on the ground so that each and every person can spend a safe and warm winter without anyone being left out," and added, "We ask the public to pay attention to neighbors in need around them."