Pension for disabled kicks off

From today, low-income disabled people will receive a monthly pension according to the severity of their disability paid by the National Pension Service (NPS).

Besides the 260,000 people who have already been benefitting from the Pension for Persons with Disabilities, 66,000 have submitted applications for the new benefit and are undergoing the screening process. Those qualified will receive between 90,000 won to 150,000 won a month.

Currently, a fixed allowance is given to the disabled in addition to their national pension.

The new pension for the disabled is to reflect inflation, a Ministry of Health and Welfare official said. Currently all OECD member states except for Austria employs this system.

The NPS is receiving applications from those who are over 18 years old, and have a monthly income of less than 500,000 won in a single household or 800,000 won for a couple.

They should submit their identification, a copy of their bank account records and a doctors' diagnosis certification of their disability to their local administrative office. For more information, visit www.e-welfare.go.kr/pension.