Special Feature 1 in 10 Suwon Residents Benefited from Essential Living Expense Support...'7-Type Transportation and Subsidy Package'

[News S=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] One out of every 10 Suwon residents has benefited from reduced living expenses through the Suwon Saebitt Living Expense Package, a new initiative launched by the city this year. A total of 123,000 residents received living expense benefits. Just five months after the support program began in early this year, 10% of all Suwon residents have become actual beneficiaries. The Suwon Saebitt Living Expense Package includes seven programs: expanded childbirth support funds, universal menstrual product support, youth housing packages, shingles vaccination, free transportation for seniors, entry-level young workers, and registered persons with disabilities.

◇Transportation subsidies give residents extra spending power!

Transportation costs have been the area where the most residents benefited from reduced living expenses.

By late April, approximately 4.14 billion won in transportation costs was provided to roughly 85,000 young people, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

This means an average refund of approximately 48,000 won per person in bus fares.

In particular, young people aged 19-23 who are entry-level workers can be considered the biggest beneficiaries of transportation subsidies.

From January to April this year, 25,503 entry-level young workers reduced their transportation costs through their bus usage history.

More than 80% of the 31,717 eligible recipients with bus usage history experienced the city's transportation cost savings support.

The total transportation subsidy for entry-level young workers was 1.754 billion won. Converted to an average, this equals 68,776 won per person.

Since this represents a refund of transportation costs actually used through April, it means saving 17,000 won per month, which amounts to 73.5% of the maximum monthly support of 23,100 won.

Seniors aged 70 and older have the widest range of beneficiaries from the living expense package.

Of the 68,461 eligible seniors, close to 82%, or 56,102 people, received actual payments. The total amount paid to seniors was 2.236 billion won. This means an average of 39,855 won was provided per person over three months. Based on the standard city bus basic fare of 1,650 won, this equates to eight free bus rides per month.

Registered persons with disabilities residing in Suwon, numbering 3,909, were also able to receive refunds for bus fares to supplement their living expenses.

For persons with disabilities aged 24-69 who used buses with disability G-Pass cards from January to March, a total of 1.5455 billion won in transportation costs was provided.

This represents a savings of 39,500 won per person in transportation costs.

Suwon City is concentrating administrative efforts to quickly provide transportation cost refunds even in cases where payment has not been made due to issues such as account garnishment or account number errors.

Through continuous guidance such as changing disbursement accounts to livelihood accounts, correcting account numbers, and encouraging submission of necessary documents, Suwon City helps eligible recipients benefit from reduced living costs.

◇Tailored precision support for citizen health across life stages

Beyond transportation costs, living expense support essential to residents has begun this year and is effectively serving as a household economic helper.

The first childbirth support funds expanded this year by Suwon City, menstrual product support for female adolescents, and shingles vaccination subsidies have been utilized to precisely protect Suwon residents' health.

First, the expanded childbirth support funds provided to first-born children paid 1.906 billion won to 2,636 newborn families from January to May.

Compared to payments of 615.15 million won to 830 people during the same period last year, both the number of recipients and the amount more than tripled.

This reflects the effect of benefits being equally distributed to first-born children who were not eligible for childbirth support until last year.

As of early May this year, 1,647 families with first-born newborns who completed their applications were able to receive support funds in early June.

The universal menstrual product support program for female adolescents that began in March is also popular.

Targeting female adolescents born between 2008 and 2015, more than half of the 42,880 eligible recipients, totaling 23,817 people, have completed their applications.

A maximum of 142,000 won annually is provided in two installments, and by obtaining a mobile card, residents can conveniently use it at convenience stores affiliated with Gyeonggi regional currency merchants or for online orders at delivery platforms.

The number of seniors aged 65 and older receiving shingles vaccination support to protect their health while alleviating economic burden exceeded 10,000 in just four months.

This year, support is provided to seniors born in even-numbered years, and 10,461 out of 25,450 eligible seniors, exceeding 40.9%, have completed their vaccinations.

In particular, general citizens (excluding recipients of basic livelihood support and near-poor households) who were able to receive vaccinations at contracted medical institutions since late February achieved high policy effects, with 9,300 people vaccinated in just over three months.

The youth housing package to lighten young people's financial burden will see first disbursements this month.

Approximately 264 million won will be provided to 400 people to help reduce essential housing costs such as monthly rent, moving expenses, and broker fees.

This enables residents to save an average of 660,000 won per person in housing-related costs. After eligible recipients for the overlapping Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport youth monthly rent support program are determined, additional support will be provided in the second half of the year.

◇Don't miss Suwon City's living expense support for you!

Since the Saebitt Living Expense Package is support for universal Suwon residents, it is an opportunity to save as much as you know about it.

The first step to receiving living expense support you are entitled to is carefully checking the support conditions and application methods for all seven programs.

For childbirth support funds, applications are possible within one year from the date of birth. Therefore, for babies born after January 1st this year, the application period is still ample.

You can apply at your residential administrative welfare center or online through Government24.

Female adolescents born between 2008 and 2015 who have not yet applied for universal menstrual product support still have an opportunity.

Prepare identification documents and other required materials, then visit your dong administrative welfare center to apply. In particular, note that you must apply every year and that funds must be used by year-end.

Shingles vaccination support is available to all seniors born in even-numbered years before 1960, excluding those who have previously received the vaccination.

Since vaccination support becomes unavailable when vaccines are exhausted, it is advisable to check availability at your vaccination provider before visiting. A list of contracted medical institutions can be found on the Suwon City Hall website.

For free transportation, available cards and usage ranges differ for each eligible group.

Seniors and registered persons with disabilities residing in Suwon require transportation cards issued by Nonghyup (G-Pass), while entry-level young workers need K-Pass transportation cards.

Transportation costs are paid quarterly, with a maximum of 70,000 won per quarter and an annual maximum of 280,000 won.

For entry-level young workers, the usage scope is broader, extending to city subway, metropolitan railway, and airport railway in addition to city buses.

The youth housing package is available to applicants whose health insurance premium-based household income is at or below 120% of the median income.

Additionally, support is available for those residing in privately owned buildings with rental deposits of 100 million won or less and monthly rent of 600,000 won or less.

In particular, since the application period is operated separately, those meeting the conditions must wait for the designated period.

A Suwon City official stated, "Suwon City is carefully supporting families through the Saebitt Living Expense Package so that everyone from childbirth families to adolescents, young adults, and seniors can benefit," and added, "We hope citizens apply without missing this opportunity and receive support that helps their daily lives."