A Single-parent Family means either a mother-and-child family or father-and-childfamily.
Whatis a Single-parent Family?
A "single-parent family" means a family supported by a single mother or father who raises a child(ren) under 18 years of age (referring to a person under the age of 22 where he/she attends school and a person under the age to which the period of his/her military service is added where he/she attends school after performing his/her military services under the Military Service Act) and whose recognized income does not exceed 60% of the standard median income (or 60% of the standard median income, for payment of welfare benefits) (see subparagraphs 2 and 5 of Article 4 of the Single-Parent Family Support Act; Article 3 of the Enforcement Rules of the Single-Parent Family Support Act; 2023 Scope of Eligibility for Single-Parent Family Support (Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Gazette No. 2022-57, issued on and enforced from January 1, 2023); and 2023 Guidelines for Single-Parent Family Support Project of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family p.19).
Amother-and-child family means a family that is supported by a single mother asthe head of the household (If not the head of the household, then this is theperson who is actually supporting the members of the household) (Article 4-3 ofthe Single-parent Family Support Act).
Afather-and-child family means a family that is supported by a single father asthe head of the household (If not the head of the household, then this is theperson who is actually supporting the members of the household) (Article 4-4 ofthe Single-parent Family Support Act).
※ The details ofstandard income prescribed by the Minister of Gender Equality and Family areelaborated in the subsection of this content.
In principle, thebeneficiary of a Single-parent Family shall live together in the same residenceas the household (the same domicile and household as reported in the residentregistration) (2022 Guidelines for Single-parent Family Support Project of theMinistry of Gender Equality and Family, p. 39-40).
Nevertheless,subsidies for Single-parent Family are allowed to the family of a differentdomicile and household between the child and single parent if the child isconsidered as a dependent from the extended perspective of child care.
※ No householdresidence case of living at the other residence of parent, relatives, orfriends away from the family.
A Single-parent Family is designated by the household units under theSingle-Parent Family Support Act. For this reason, any member of aSingle-parent Family at another residence of the parent, relatives, or friendsaway from family is considered as a separate household for subsidy treatment(2022 Guidelines for Single-parent Family Support Project, p. 50).
Nevertheless, for example, when a child has lost both parents due to atraffic accident and lives with an aunt (at aunt’s residence), a subsidy is noteligible since the child and aunt do not constitute a Single-parent Familyrelationship under the Single-parent Family Act. In this particular case, asubsidy under the foster family care system is available (2022 Guidelines forSingle-parent Family Support Project, p. 206).
< Case >
Q. A single father has an elementary school student child and works as asubstitute driver on night shifts. He has sent the child to his sister’s homesince he cannot afford to take care of both his child and work. In this case,is any subsidy for a father-and-child family eligible?
A. In principle, a Single-parent Family is recognized when the child livesin the same domicile with a single mother or father. Nevertheless, when directcare by the single parent is not possible for any reason such as job situationand the child is inevitably sent to relatives at a different domicile away fromthe single parent, a subsidy is allowed after confirmation of the willingnessand intention of the single parent to care the child, for example, by means ofregular or intermittent support of child care expense or personal visit.
(Source: 2022 Guidelines for Single-parent FamilySupport Project, p. 211)
Amother or father of Single-parent Family means a parent who takes care of thechild alone because of divorce, death of spouse, or other reason.
Scopeof eligibility for mother or father of Single-parent Family
A mother or father ofSingle-parent Family means a person who takes care of a child pertaining to oneof the following cases (subparagraph 1 of Article 4 of the Single-Parent FamilySupport Act; 2022 Guidelines for Single-Parent Family Support Project, pp. 43-45).
Person who lost aspouse by death, divorce, or abandonment
※ Abandonment means, by the precedent ofSupreme Court, “Abandoning theother spouse without any due reason, refusing to observe the duty as a marriedspouse to live with, support, and help the other spouse” (Supreme CourtDecision, April 10, 1998, 96meu1434 Decision).
Person whosespouse cannot work for 6 months or longer due to mental or physical handicap(except in cases where incomes are generated througheconomic activities)
Person whosespouse is missing without any verification of life or death
√ A person in legal proceedings for declaration ofdisappearance of spouse or disappearance of spouse is confirmed by city, countyor district government (classified as non-domicile person, Cancellation of theresident registration by administrative decision, etc.)
A person whoevaded home due to family violence or discord with spouse or family of spouse
A person whocannot afford to support spouse due to military service
A person whocannot afford to support spouse due to being in prison for a long term
A foreigner(registered as a foreigner in compliance with Article 31, Immigration ControlAct) who married (excludes legally unmarried mother or father) a Korean national,stays in Korea, and takes care of a child of Korean nationality and pertainingto one of the above cases
※ About Divorce
Q. My divorce with my current husband has been finalized, but it hasnot been recorded in the family register. Can I receive support with only thecourt judgment of the divorce?
A. Yes, you can. Even if the information is not reflected in theofficial register, the court judgment specifies an outline for single-parentfamily designation including the assignment of parental rights and custodialrights. Therefore, you can gain a single-parent family status.
(Source: 2022 Single-parent Family Support Guide,p. 212)
※ Abandonment by Spouse
Q. My current husband travels around working on local constructionprojects. He would leave home for months once a project begins. However, this time,he has not returned for six months, had his mobile phone deactivated, and hasnot sent any money for living expenses. Can I receive support in this case?
A. Yes, you can. If a husband travels around for work, it is likelythat he did not abandon his spouse intentionally. However, if a husbandintentionally hides, stops calling, and stops sending money because he does notwant to live with his wife, he deliberately violates his obligation to livewith, cooperate with, and support his wife, which constitutes an intentionalabandonment.
(Source: 2022 Single-parent Family Support Guide,p. 215)
※ Single-parent FamilyDesignation on Account of Depression, Etc.
Q. My mother is unemployed and suffers from depression, so I moved tomy grandmother’s house, where I have since been living. Can we get asingle-parent family status?
A. Depression alone is not deemed a sufficient reason for not beingable to nurture one’s children. If a parent is sufficiently willing to nurturehis/her child, the family can receive support as a mother-and-child family or afather-and-child family. However, if it can be objectively determined that aparent is not able to nurture his/her child for psychological issues, etc., thefamily can receive support as a grandparent-grandchild family.
(Source: 2022 Single-parent Family Support Guide,p. 208)
MulticulturalSingle-parent Family
Single-parentFamily support is allowed to foreigners married to Korean nationals andresiding in Korea with the registration of a foreigner who, as the singlefather or mother meeting the specified condition herein above, takes care of achild of Korean nationality (Article 5-2-(3) of the Single-parent FamilySupport Act; Article 10 of the Enforcement Decree of Single-parent FamilySupport Act).
AdolescentSingle-parent Family
A young single-parent familymeans the family supported by a single father or mother who is aged 24 yearsold or younger. Other additional subsidies are provided such as educationsupport for the young single parent for self-independence (subparagraph 1-2 of Article4 of the Single-Parent Family Support Act and 2022 Scope of Eligibility forSingle-Parent Family Support, 2022 Guidelines for Single-Parent Family SupportProject, p.39).
Single-parentFamily support for child care will qualify when the child is younger than 18years old (If an enrolled student, younger than age 22).
Scopeof eligibility for child support subsidy
A child under 18 years of age iseligible for subsidy. It refers to a person under the age of 22 where he/sheattends high school or college and a person under the age to which the periodof his/her military service is added where he/she attends school afterperforming his/her military services under the Military Service Act (subparagraph5 of Article 4 of the Single-Parent FamilySupport Act, 2022 Scope of Eligibility for Single-Parent Family Support and 2022Guidelines for Single-Parent Family Support Project, p. 46).
AgeCalculation Criteria
The age ofan eligible child is calculated based on his/her full age rather, and theeligible ages are as follows (see 2022 Single-Parent Family Support Guide, p. 46-47).
Below 18:until the month preceding the one where the 18th birthday arrives (or, untilthe month with the high school graduation date, if the person is 18 or olderbut still studying in high school)
Below 22:until the month preceding the one where the 22nd birthday arrives
If one of theeligible children passes the eligible age limit, then such child will beexcluded from subsidy programs. The other remaining children of eligible agewill be entitled to child subsidy benefits (Article 5-(2) of the Single-parentFamily Support Act).
To be eligiblefor Single-parent Family support, at least one child within the eligible agerange should be in the family. If a child passes the eligible age limit withoutany other children of the family within the eligible age limit, then thisfamily will no longer be eligible for the Single-parent Family subsidy.
Studenteligibility criteria
Child subsidy is provided to achild (younger than 22 years old) who is enrolled in school or college (see 2022 Guidelinesfor Single-Parent Family Support Project, p. 47).
College,Industrial College, Education College, Junior College, Broadcast College, OpenCollege, Tele-broadcast College, Cyber University, Distant College, TechnicalCollege, Korea Polytechnics College, ICT Polytech Institute of Korea, LifelongEducational Facilities (limited to such educational facilities that meet thelevel of junior college or above) (Article 2 of the Higher Education Act;Article 31 of the Lifelong Education Act)
√ Regardless of leave of absence and returning to school,the subsidy is provided by the end of the age of 22.
√ A student child who is younger than 22 years old and is inmilitary service, a public service worker, or full-time reserve force iseligible for subsidy benefits.
Students enrolledin high school (Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;Article 31 of the Lifelong Education Act)
Students enrolledin a foreign university (Notarized translation paper of student registrationshould be submitted.)
In case the childis a student enrolled in high school or college after military service, themilitary service period shall be added and the age eligibility will be extendedto the extended age limit in the calculation of age (Article 4-5 of the Single-parentFamily Support Act).
Regardless of leave of absence orreturn to school, subsidy is provided by the end of the age limit of 22 yearsof age. The extension of the military service period shall be counted from thedate of returning to school after military service, and such extension shall begiven until the last day of the year when the student becomes 25 years old(maximum age) (2022 Guidelines for Single-Parent Family Support Project, p. 48).
For students who are retaking thecollege entrance examination or school qualification examination, or attendingjob seeking institutes, the eligibility age limit is 18 years (2022Guidelines for Single-Parent Family Support Project, p. 49).
※ Eligibilityquestions for child subsidy
Q. My 17-year-old first child dropped out of high school and has a job. Ismy child eligible for Single-parent Family support?
A. The determination of eligibility is based on the age of the child, andsubsidy is provided until the age limit of 18 years (If an enrolled student,younger than age 22) as an eligible member of Single-parent Family, even if thechild has a job. Nonetheless, the child is not eligible for education expensesubsidy, and the income of your child will be traced and added to the familyincome for income based eligibility evaluation.
(Source: 2022 Guidelines for Single-parent Family SupportProject, p. 217)