2027 budget proposal for single-parent family (한부모가족) support — welfare benefit income threshold to be widened to 66% or less of the standard median income, new prospective child-rearing allowance proposed
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
On September 15, 2026, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (성평등가족부) said it has budgeted 651 billion won for single-parent family support in 2027, widening the income threshold for welfare benefits from 65% or less of the standard median income (기준 중위소득) to 66% or less and piloting a prospective child-rearing allowance of 230,000 won a month for 3 months in late pregnancy.
Key facts
| Budget proposal | 651 billion won budgeted for single-parent family (한부모가족) support in 2027 — 25 billion won (4.0%) more than in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Welfare benefit income threshold | Widened from 65% or less of the standard median income (기준 중위소득) to 66% or less (recipients of the child-rearing allowance estimated to rise by 13,000 to 270,000) |
| Teen parents | 250,000 won a month in child-rearing allowance for teen parent (청소년부모) households aged 24 or under — income requirement eased from 65% or less to 66% or less |
| Prospective child-rearing allowance (provisional name) | Pilot introduction of 230,000 won a month for 3 months in late pregnancy for unmarried pregnant women (예비양육수당) |
| Medical and housing | 700,000 won a year per person in counseling and treatment costs newly provided for residents of welfare facilities with borderline intellectual functioning (경계선지능인) (separate from the existing 300,000 won a year in diagnosis costs); medical cost ceiling at childbirth support facilities raised from 350,000 won to 500,000 won a year; purchased rental housing from 346 to 401 units; deposit ceiling from 12 million won to 13 million won |
| Advance payment of child support | 200,000 won a month per child until age 18 — income criterion abolished on October 29, 2026; legal support from 4,500 cases to 6,000 cases |
| Status | Contents of the 2027 budget proposal (not yet finalized) |
| Inquiries | Family Support Division, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (성평등가족부 가족지원과) 02-2100-6354, 02-2100-6567 |
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On September 15, 2026, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (성평등가족부) said it has budgeted 651 billion won for support for single-parent families (한부모가족) in 2027, 25 billion won (4.0%) more than in 2026. The income threshold for welfare benefits — the child-rearing allowance, the child education support allowance and the living allowance for low-income single-parent families — is to be widened from households at or below 65% of the standard median income (기준 중위소득) to those at or below 66%, which is estimated to add 13,000 recipients of the child-rearing allowance for a total of 270,000. The income requirement for the teen parent child-rearing allowance, which pays 250,000 won a month to teen parent (청소년부모) households aged 24 or under, is also to be eased from 65% or less to 66% or less. A pilot '(provisional name) prospective child-rearing allowance' ((가칭)예비양육수당 지원) is to be introduced, paying 230,000 won a month for 3 months in late pregnancy to unmarried pregnant women who have difficulty receiving support from their family of origin and difficulty working. For residents of single-parent family welfare facilities with borderline intellectual functioning (경계선지능인), 700,000 won per person a year in counseling and treatment costs is to be newly provided in addition to the existing 300,000 won a year in diagnosis costs, and the medical cost support ceiling for residents of childbirth support facilities is to be raised from 350,000 won to 500,000 won per person a year. Purchased rental housing support is to rise by 55 units, from 346 to 401, and the deposit support ceiling from up to 12 million won to 13 million won. For the advance payment of child support (양육비 선지급), which pays 200,000 won a month per child until age 18, the income criterion is to be abolished on October 29, 2026, and the legal support service for child support enforcement is to be expanded from 4,500 cases to 6,000 cases.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How much will the welfare benefit income threshold be eased?
Eligibility for welfare benefits for low-income single-parent families is to be widened from households at or below 65% of the standard median income (기준 중위소득) to those at or below 66%. Recipients of the child-rearing allowance are accordingly estimated to rise by 13,000 to 270,000.
Who receives the prospective child-rearing allowance, and how much?
A pilot '(provisional name) prospective child-rearing allowance' pays 230,000 won a month for 3 months in late pregnancy to unmarried pregnant women and others who have difficulty receiving support from their family of origin and difficulty working.
When does the income criterion for the advance payment of child support end?
The income criterion for the advance payment of child support, which pays 200,000 won a month per child until age 18, is to be abolished on October 29, 2026.