Lawmakers agreed on a revised bill on those eligible for a state welfare payment for the poor on Monday, after it remained stalled for about 18 months.
Inspired by the tragic, collective suicide of an impoverished mother in her 60s and her two ill, grown-up daughters in Seoul last year, the revised bill expands the eligibility for the government welfare program for those who make less than the government-designated minimum cost of living of 603,403 won ($548) a month ― even if they have an immediate family member with a regular income.
Under the current law, all adult South Koreans are legally obligated to financially support their spouses, parents and parents-in-laws.
Accordingly, the recipients of state welfare payments lose a portion or all of their allowance if any member of their immediate family ― a spouse, child or child-in-law ― has a regular monthly income, depending how much they make.
As of this year, impoverished individuals with a family member whose monthly income is 2.12 million won or more automatically become ineligible for the subsidy program.
“We lawmakers of the main opposition party have together acknowledged that the current law often forces poor grown-up children to support their poor parents, making it extremely difficult for them to escape poverty,” said lawmaker Kim Sung-joo in a statement.
“We have also acknowledged that this legal obligation to support family members also applies to the disabled and the elderly, which also often blocks their access to much-needed social and financial resources.”
Under the revised bill, which will likely take effect next year, all destitute individuals with a child or spouse making 4.04 million won or less a month will become eligible for the welfare payments.
With the revision, the Welfare Ministry predicts that some 12,000 more people will be able to benefit from the program.
“We are glad to hear the decision of the National Assembly,” said an official from the ministry. “We will do our best to make sure everyone who is eligible can benefit from the revised bill.”
Lawmakers of the main opposition party had been claiming that one should be not legally obligated to support one’s parents-in-law, but this was not included in the revised bill.
Under the current law, married individuals must support their parents-in-law even if they are widowed or separated from their spouses.
By Claire Lee (
dyc@heraldcorp.com)
