Child Allowance Payment Age Extended, Including Retroactive Payments

Starting this year, the eligible age for receiving child allowance will be extended to under 9 years old.

This change follows an amendment to the 'Child Allowance Act,' with the new criteria taking effect from the April payment. Notably, children born between 2017 and March 2018 will receive retroactive payments from previous periods without needing a separate application. These changes will also apply to all current recipients under 7 years old.

The amount of child allowance will also change due to the law amendment. Children residing in the Seoul metropolitan area will receive 100,000 won monthly. Children in non-metropolitan areas and depopulating regions will receive an additional subsidy of up to 20,000 won per month. If the allowance is received as a local gift certificate, an additional 10,000 won will be provided monthly, making it possible to receive up to 130,000 won per month in some cases.

Starting this year, the child allowance age limit is scheduled to be raised by one year annually. Following the plan, by 2030, five years from now, children under 13 years old will be eligible for the child allowance benefits.

Local governments have sent text messages to the guardians of children with information regarding child allowance payments. If personal information such as bank account details needs to be changed, applicants must visit or contact their local Eup, Myeon, or Dong administrative welfare center to apply for the change. The expanded allowance and additional support for the January through March period will be paid retroactively on the regular April payment date.