what do you need to be eligible for government welfare programs? Most of the 80+ welfare programs run by 14 government ministries are based on household income. with the median income set to increase by 6.42% in 2025, the highest ever, an estimated 71,000 additional people will be eligible for welfare benefits. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the median income, the selection criteria for various welfare programs, and the benefits you can receive.

table of contents

  1. key Selection Criteria for Government Welfare Programs - Median Income
  2. detailed median income by household size in 2025
  3. basic Livelihood Security Subsistence Benefit Selection Criteria and Amounts
  4. medical benefit selection criteria and what will change in 2025
  5. housing Benefit Standard rent and support for households by region
  6. education Benefit Selection Criteria and Educational Activity Support Costs
  7. expanded eligibility and cost of childcare services
  8. how to calculate the income allowance and property standards
  9. how to use welfare programs and benefits of welfare memberships
  10. frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

key Selection Criteria for Government Welfare Programs - Median Income

the most important criterion for selecting recipients of government welfare programs is the "threshold median income," which refers to the median household income of the country. To put it simply, if there are 100 people in the country, the 50th person in the order of income is the threshold median income.

the government announces the median income for the following year by August 1 of each year, and since each welfare program has a target of "no more than a few percent of the median income," as the median income rises, more people will be eligible for welfare benefits.

in particular, in 2025, the median income was raised by an average of 6.42%, the largest increase since the introduction of the customized benefit system in 2015. This has led to a significant increase in the number of people eligible for various welfare programs, from the Basic Livelihood Security Benefit to childcare services.

detailed median income by number of household members in 2025

the median income for 2025 is set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare through the Central Livelihood Security Committee and varies depending on the number of people in the household.

median Income in 2025 by Number of Household Members

number of household members 2024 in 2025 increase percentage increase single person household 2,228,445 KRW 2,392,013 KRW kRW 163,568 7.34 2-person household kRW 3,682,609 3,932,658 KRW kRW 250,049 6.78 3-person household kRW 4,714,657 5,025,353 KRW kRW 310,696 6.59 4-person household kRW 5,729,913 6,097,773 KRW kRW 367,860 6.42 5-person household kRW 6,695,735 7,108,192 KRW kRW 412,457 6.16 6-person household kRW 7,618,369 8,064,805 KRW kRW 446,436 5.86

households with 7 or more people will pay an average of $95 for each additional person in the household. households of 8 or more are calculated by adding the difference between the median income for a 7-person household and the median income for a 6-person household.

what is particularly noteworthy about this increase is that the rate of increase for single-person households is the highest at 7.34%, which can be seen as a reflection of policy consideration for the growing number of single-person households.

basic Livelihood Security Subsistence Benefit Selection Criteria and Amount

the Basic Livelihood Benefit is the core benefit of the Basic Livelihood Security System, which guarantees minimum living expenses for households earning 32% or less of the median income. starting in 2025, the selection threshold will be raised from 30% to 32%, allowing more low-income people to receive the benefit.

living Benefit thresholds for 2025 (32% of median income)

  • one-person household: KRW 765,444 or less
  • two-person household: kRW 1,258,451 or less
  • 3-person household: kRW 1,608,113 or less
  • 4-person household: 1,951,287 or less
  • 5-person household: 2,274,621 KRW or less
  • 6-person household: 2,580,738 KRW or less

how to Calculate the Subsistence Benefit Amount

the subsistence benefit amount is the amount of the eligibility threshold minus the household's income allowance. for example, if a family of four has an income allowance of 500,000 won per month, they will receive 1,451,287 won (1,951,287 won minus 500,000 won) per month.

the income allowance is a combination of actual income, such as labor income and business income, and the amount of property converted into income. In the case of property, the amount of property is converted to a certain percentage after deducting the basic property amount, so a small amount of property does not significantly affect the income allowance.

self-employment for able-bodied recipients

beneficiaries who are able to work can receive a subsistence benefit while participating in a self-support project. 30% of the income earned from participating in self-supported work is deducted and excluded from the calculation of the income allowance.

medical benefit eligibility criteria and how it will change in 2025

the Medical Benefit is a program that helps households earning 40% or less of the median income to pay for medical expenses. starting in 2025, the deductible system will be completely overhauled for the first time in 17 years, significantly improving access to healthcare.

medical benefit eligibility in 2025 (40% of median income)

  • one-person household: KRW 956,805 or less
  • 2-person household: kRW 1,573,063 or less
  • 3-person household: kRW 2,010,141 or less
  • 4-person households: 2,439,109 won or less

medical Benefits Deductible Reorganization

previously, you had to pay a fixed amount of 1,000 to 2,000 won for outpatient visits to hospitals and 500 won at pharmacies. However, from 2025, it will be changed to a flat rate system and you will only pay up to 8% of the health insurance deductible. however, the out-of-pocket maximum is limited to 50,000 won.

in addition, the healthy lifestyle maintenance fee will be doubled from KRW 6,000 to KRW 12,000 per month, further reducing the burden of medical expenses for beneficiaries. a differential co-payment system has been introduced for heavy outpatient users (more than 365 visits per year) to prevent medical shopping while ensuring that necessary medical services are sufficiently available.

housing Benefit Area-Based Rent and Self-Help Household Assistance

housing Benefit supports housing stability for households at or below 48% of the area median income. in 2025, the eligibility threshold has been relaxed from 47% to 48%, and rents have been increased by 3.2-7.8% by region.

housing Benefit eligibility criteria in 2025 (48% of median income)

  • single person household: kRW 1,148,166 or less
  • 4-person household: kRW 2,926,931 or less

standard Rent by Region in 2025 (Maximum Monthly Support Amount)

number of Household Members seoul (1st class) gyeonggi and Incheon (2nd class) gyeonggi and Sejong (3rd) other areas (4th class) 1 person 352,000 KRW 281,000 KRW 228,000 KRW kRW 191,000 2 persons kRW 395,000 314,000 KRW kRW 254,000 kRW 215,000 3 persons kRW 470,000 kRW 375,000 kRW 302,000 kRW 256,000 4 persons kRW 545,000 kRW 433,000 351,000 KRW kRW 297,000 5 persons kRW 564,000 448,000 KRW kRW 363,000 kRW 307,000 6 persons kRW 674,000 kRW 535,000 435,000 KRW 368,000 KRW

if your actual rent is less than the standard rent, you will receive the actual rent. households whose income allowance exceeds the subsistence benefit threshold will receive the amount less their co-payment.

significant increase in the repair and maintenance benefit for households with children

the repair maintenance allowance for self-contained households has increased by an average of 29%.

  • light maintenance (3-year cycle): 4.57 million won → 5.9 million won
  • medium (5-year cycle): kRW 849 → KRW 1,095
  • large (7-year cycle): 1,241 million won → 1,601 million won

households with disabilities can receive up to 3.8 million won in additional support for installing amenities, and households of the elderly (65 years of age or older) can also receive separate support for installing amenities for the residentially disadvantaged.

education Benefit Selection Criteria and Educational Activity Support Costs

the Education Benefit supports education expenses for elementary, middle, and high school students from households earning 50% or less of the median income. in 2025, the education activity support fee has been increased by an average of 5%, reducing the burden of education expenses on parents.

education Stipend Selection Criteria for 2025 (50% of median income)

  • single-person household: kRW 1,196,007 or less
  • 4-person household: KRW 3,048,887 or less

education Activity Support Fee in 2025 (per year)

  • elementary school students: 487,000 won (23,000 won increase from the previous year)
  • middle school students: KRW 679,000 (up 32,000 from the previous year)
  • high school students: KRW 768,000 (up 41,000 from the previous year)

the Education Activity Fee is paid in quarterly installments and directly deposited into the student's or guardian's account. the money can be used for a variety of educational needs, including school supplies, reference books, and tuition.

students enrolled in non-free high schools (private schools, etc.) will receive additional support for entrance fees, full tuition, and textbooks. This is handled directly by the school principal and does not require a separate application.

expanded eligibility and cost of childcare

childcare is a service where a childcare provider comes to your home to care for your child under the age of 12 when you are unable to care for them. starting in 2025, eligibility will be expanded from 150% to 200% of the median income, making it available to more working families.

childcare rates and subsidies in 2025

the base rate for part-time services will increase to KRW 12,180 per hour, but subsidies will be provided on a sliding scale based on income level.

type A (75% of median income or less)

  • Type A (born after 2018): kRW 10,354 from the government, KRW 1,826 from yourself
  • Type B (born before 2018): kRW 9,136 for the government and KRW 3,044 for yourself

type B (75-120% of median income)

  • Type A: 7,308 won for government, 4,872 won for self
  • Type B: 4,872 won for the government and 7,308 won for yourself

type D (120~150% of median income)

  • Type A: 3,654 won for government, 8,526 won for self
  • Type B: You pay the full cost

type L (150-200% of median income, new in 2025)

  • Type A: 1,828 won for government, 10,352 won for self
  • Type B: You pay the full cost

full-day infant care and special services

full-day infant care (ages 3-36 months) costs 15,830 won per hour, and special services for children with infectious diseases cost 14,610 won. if you need emergency care, the additional fee has been reduced from 4,500 to 3,000 won, making it more affordable.

up to 960 hours of service use per year can be subsidized, with priority given to single-parent families, families with disabled parents, and families with multiple children.

how to calculate the income allowance and property standards

the income allowance, which is the key to selecting welfare recipients, is the sum of your assessed income and the income equivalent of your property. knowing the exact calculation method can help you determine your eligibility in advance.

calculating the means test

means-tested income = Actual income - Household characteristic expenses - Earned income credit

actual income includes earned income, business income, property income, and transfer income. from 2025, the earned income deduction for seniors aged 65 and over will be expanded, allowing them to deduct an additional 30% of the remaining amount after deducting 200,000 won.

calculating the imputed value of property

equalized value of property = (Property value - Basic property value - Debt) × Equalization factor

basic property deduction by region (2025)

  • seoul: KRW 9,960
  • gyeonggi and metropolitan areas: kRW 7,160 million
  • other regions: kRW 5,330 million

income Conversion Rates

  • general property (houses, land, etc.): 4.17% per month
  • financial property: 6.26% per month
  • automobiles: 100% per month (but 4.17% for cars under 2,000cc and under 5 million won)

for example, for a family of four living in Seoul with a 150 million won apartment, (150 million won - 9,960 million won) × 4.17% = approximately 2.1 million won per month.

lower dependent threshold

from 2025, the dependency criteria for the Livelihood Benefit and Medical Benefit will be further relaxed. if the dependent is a basic pension recipient or a disability pension recipient, the dependency standard will not apply. The dependency standard has already been completely abolished for housing and education benefits.

how to use Welfare Road and the benefits of a Welfare Membership

welfare Road(www.bokjiro.go.kr) is a unified portal where you can find and apply for over 360 central government welfare programs and 4,000 local government services in one place.

how to find services tailored to you

there are three ways to find the services that are right for you on the Welfare Road homepage

  1. search by lifecycle: customized services by age group: infants, children and youth, young adults, middle-aged, and seniors
  2. search by household situation: Support for low-income, disabled, single parents, multicultural families, etc
  3. simulation calculation: Pre-test the eligibility of 10 major programs such as Basic Livelihood Security and Basic Pension

benefits of Welfare Membership

when you sign up for Welfare Membership, you will automatically receive 128 personalized welfare services. from 2025, 39 local government programs, including Seoul's, will be added to create a tighter welfare safety net.

there are three ways to sign up: online (welfare website), offline (community centers in towns and villages), and mobile app, and you can sign up by simply entering your information after verifying your identity. you can also receive notifications via text or AlertTalk when services are available, so you don't miss out on any benefits.

services that can be applied for online

as of 2025, you can apply for 52 welfare services online. the main services are

  • basic security benefits (livelihood, healthcare, housing, education)
  • support for single-parent families
  • secondary out-of-pocket expenses relief
  • childcare
  • energy vouchers
  • special support for youth
  • disability allowance and child allowance

if you have difficulty applying online, you can also visit your local community center to apply for a unified application. it is convenient because you can apply for multiple welfare services at the same time with one application.

frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Is the median income before or after taxes?

A: The amount of income allowance compared to the reference median income is based on pre-tax income. In the case of labor income, it is based on the total salary before deductions such as national pension and health insurance premiums, and business income is based on the total income before excluding necessary expenses. however, deductions from welfare programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit are applied separately.

Q2. Will owning a car prevent me from receiving Basic Livelihood Security?

A: From 2025, the car threshold has been significantly relaxed. if the car is less than 2,000cc and has a value of 5 million won or less, it is classified as general property and only a 4.17% monthly income conversion rate is applied. for example, a used car worth 4 million won will only be converted into income at a rate of 166,800 won per month, so you may be eligible. separate relaxation standards apply for disabled vehicles or vehicles used for livelihood.

Q3. If I live with my parents, can I not separate my household?

A: You can separate households even if you live at the same address on your social security card. if you are over the age of 30 or married, you may qualify as a separate household, in which case your income and resources will be used to determine eligibility. however, you may need to prove that you actually live separately.

Q4. If I become a basic needs recipient, will I automatically receive medical benefits?

A: Most Basic Livelihood Benefit recipients also receive Medical Benefit, but it is not automatically linked. Basic Livelihood Benefit is based on 32% of the median income and Medical Benefit is based on 40%, so if your income is between 32% and 40%, you can only receive Medical Benefit. Since each benefit has different selection criteria, it is recommended to apply for all benefits through a unified application.

Q5. The Welfare Office says I can receive benefits based on the simulation, but can I actually receive them?

A: The simulated calculation is an estimated result based on the information you enter, so it may differ from the actual screening result. this is because the actual examination will be more detailed, such as checking financial assets and examining the income of dependents. If the simulation shows that you are eligible, it is worth applying, and if you are rejected, you can reapply.

wrapping up

the significant expansion of government welfare programs in 2025 is expected to help stabilize the livelihood of the common people. the 6.42% increase in the median income, along with the relaxation of various selection criteria and the increase in the amount of support, is expected to increase the actual welfare experience.

welfare is a right. don't hesitate to ask for help when you find yourself in a difficult situation. utilize your welfare benefits and welfare membership to find all the benefits you may have missed, especially if you are newly eligible under the new criteria in 2025.

if you have any further questions about government welfare programs, please contact the Welfare Office(www.bokjiro.go.kr) or the Welfare Consultation Center (129 without area code) for friendly guidance. we wish you a better tomorrow!