A “Single-parent Family” means either a mother-and-child family or father-and-child family
Meaning of Single-parent FamilyA “Single-parent Family” means either a mother-and-child family or father-and-child family (Article 4-2 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
A mother-and-child family means a family that is supported by a single mother as the head of the household (If not the head of the household, then this is the person who is actually supporting the members of the household) (Article 4-3 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
A father-and-child family means a family that is supported by a single father as the head of the household (If not the head of the household, then this is the person who is actually supporting the members of the household) (Article 4-4 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
Scope of beneficiaries of single-parent families
- Single-parent family support is extended to single-parent families raising a child 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 「Military Service Act」). If the single-parent family falls into any of the following categories, the family shall be recognized as a beneficiary of single-parent family support under 「Single-Parent Family Support Act」 (Articles 4, 5 and 5-2 of 「Single-Parent Family Support Act」, Article 3 of 「Enforcement Rule of the Single-Parent Family Support Act」 and 「2024 Scope of Eligibility for Single-Parent Family Support」).
1. Single-parent families and grandparent-grandchildren families (father or mother is 25 years old or older)
Selection standards (families to whom a single-parent family certificate is issued): 63% or less of the standard median income
Standards for the provision of welfare benefits: 63% or less of the standard median income
2. Adolescent single-parent families (father or mother is 24 years old or younger)
Selection standards (to whom a single-parent family certificate is issued): 72% or less of the base median income
Standards for the provision of welfare benefits: Varies by type provided
Various support programs are available to those designated as the beneficiaries under the Single-parent Family Support Act.
Financial Support
Welfare benefits
Single-parent families eligible for support may receive welfare benefits, such as a cost of living allowance, children education subsidies (high school entrance fee, tuition, school supplies fees, other expenses necessary for education), and childcare expenses, etc (Main section of Article 12(1) of the Single-parent Family Support Act and Article 13(2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
In addition to support for childcare expenses, adolescent single-parent families may receive, support for educational expenses so that the adolescent single-parent may continue his/her education (Article 17-2(1) of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
- Lending of Welfare Fund
· In order to promote the stabilization of livelihood and self-reliance of low-income single-parent families, a fund loan required for business operation, etc. is granted. (Article 13 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
※ Please contact “Korea Inclusive Finance Agency” (
www.kinfa.or.kr, ☎1397) for further detailed information on the welfare fund lending program for low-income single-parent families.
Other subsidies
The beneficiary of Single-parent Family support is entitled to the benefits of various subsidy programs such as mobile phone charge reduction, exemption of service charges for civil affair x-documents, reduction of fines, and integrative culture vouchers.
Housing Support
Sale or Rent of Housing
Single-parent families may be eligible for preferential sale or rent of national housing as prescribed by the Housing Act (Article 18 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
Single-parent Family Welfare Facilities
Single-parent families can be accommodated at single-parent family welfare facilities that support housing and living for a certain period and are available at the relevant choice of a Single Mother and Children Welfare facility, Single Father and Children Welfare Facility, Unmarried Mother-and-child Family Welfare Facility, Temporary Supporting Welfare Facility, etc. (Article 19-(1) of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
Legal Support
The Single-parent family or grandparents-grandchildren family under child care affected by divorce or separation is entitled to legal aid services such as legal counseling and litigation service for legal suits of family recognition or for the compensation of child care(Article 17-5 of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
Counseling and Emotional Support
Family Support Service
Single-parent Families are entitled to the family support service shown below for the restoration of family function and strengthening emotional self independence(Article 17 of the Single-parent Family Support Act; Article 17-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Single-parent Family Support Act).
√ Child raise and education service
√ Caring service for handicapped, elderly, and patients of chronic disease
√ Cooking, cleaning, laundry and housekeeping services
√ Education, counseling and other family relation improvement service
√ Counseling and psychology therapy for Single-parent Families
Consultation phone services
Single-parent families may receive specialized and systematic consultation services; these services provide comprehensive information on single-parent family support programs and connect families with support organizations and facilities (Article 18-2(1) of the Single-parent Family Support Act).