Income requirement for advance child support payments scrapped; applications open regardless of income from the 29th

[Financial News] The income requirement for the advance child support payment program will be fully abolished on the 29th of this month. As a result, single-parent families who are not receiving child support will be able to apply for advance payments regardless of their income level.
On the 29th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that it was abolishing the income requirement for the advance child support payment program effective that day, allowing single-parent families to apply for advance payments regardless of income.
Those approved for advance payments can receive up to 200,000 won in child support per month for each child until the child reaches adulthood (age 18).
Until now, household income had to be at or below 150% of the median household income to qualify for advance child support payments. This eligibility restriction had caused considerable hardship for single-parent families unable to receive child support.
With the income requirement fully abolished as of today, applicants may apply for advance payments if they hold a child support claim, the average monthly amount of child support received during the three months (or three payments) immediately preceding the application month is less than the advance payment amount, and they are pursuing procedures to receive child support.
The abolition of the income requirement will also greatly simplify the documents applicants must submit.
Applicants will no longer need to submit family relationship documents, such as family relation certificates, or documents required to investigate their income and assets themselves. The time required to verify documents and review income eligibility will also be shortened.
The advance child support payment program is a system in which the state first pays child support to the minor children of single-parent families who are unable to receive it, then recovers the amount paid from the noncustodial parent.
Since the program was introduced in July last year, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has provided about 25.3 billion won in support to 8,514 households and 13,442 minor children through September this year.
The government is also actively recovering the child support it has advanced from noncustodial parents.
Of the 7.7 billion won in advance payments made from July through December last year (4,949 cases), 1,169 cases (23.62%) and 1.1 billion won (14.66%) had been recovered as of the end of September.
For the 11 billion won in advance payments made from January through June this year (6,851 cases), recovery notices and reminder procedures are underway.
Starting at the end of this month, the National Tax Service plans to send mobile notices to those who have not paid to date, reminding them to make payment.
Applications for advance child support payments can be submitted through the Child Support Agency’s website or by mail. For more information, contact the Child Support Agency.
Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Min-kyong said, “With the abolition of the income requirement for the advance payment program, more minor children in single-parent families will be able to receive child support,” adding, “At the same time, we will strengthen efforts to recover advance payments from noncustodial parents so that the responsibility to pay child support is properly fulfilled.”
[email protected] Jung Sang-gyun Reporter