Check Who Qualifies for the 2026 Energy Voucher, the Deadline and the Amounts
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Key Takeaway
Applications for the 2026 Energy Voucher run from June 15 to December 31, for benefit-receiving households that include older people, infants, single parents and the like. As of October 8, the window is still open.
Which households can apply for the Energy Voucher?
According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, a household must meet both of the following.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Income criterion | Recipient of livelihood, medical, housing or education benefits under the National Basic Living Security Act |
| Household member criterion | The family includes an older person, an infant or young child, a person with a severe, rare or severe intractable disease, a single-parent family, a children-headed household, or a family with many children |
The voucher supports energy used for cooling and heating: electricity, city gas, district heating, kerosene, LPG, briquettes and so on. Detailed requirements such as the age and illness criteria can be adjusted each year, so it's safer to confirm at the administrative welfare center whether your household qualifies before you apply.
How much support is there by household size?
The 2026 amounts announced are based on the number of household members.
| Household size | Support amount |
|---|---|
| 1-person household | KRW 295,200 |
| 2-person household | KRW 407,500 |
| 3-person household | KRW 532,700 |
| Household of 4 or more | KRW 701,300 |
These are the standard amounts listed in the guidance, and whether you actually receive support depends on the eligibility review.
Where and by when do you apply?
The application period is June 15 to December 31, 2026. You apply by visiting the neighborhood administrative welfare center for your registered address or on the Bokjiro website. If getting around is difficult, the guidance says someone can apply on your behalf or an official can apply on their own authority. Households that haven't applied yet should check their eligibility before the deadline. The application period for next year's round has to be confirmed in an official notice once it is set.
When and how can you use it?
What you can use now is the winter voucher. Usage periods are split by season, and the summer period (July to September) has already passed.
| Season | Usage period | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | July 1 to September 30, 2026 (past) | Virtual card (deducted from your bill), electricity only |
| Winter | October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | Virtual card (deducted from your bill), one of electricity, city gas or district heating |
| Winter (physical card) | October 3, 2026 to May 31, 2027 | National Happiness Card, for electricity, city gas, kerosene, LPG or briquettes |
You can think of the physical card as the option for households that use energy like kerosene, LPG or briquettes, where deducting from a bill is difficult. Which method applies to you is something to confirm in the notice you receive after applying.
What is easy to miss before applying?
Benefit status alone is not enough. You also have to meet the household member condition. If a move or a change in household members changes your household makeup, residence or energy supply method, the way support is provided can change, so report the change. This article summarizes the public guidance as of the date checked, 2026-10-08, and it can't judge on its own whether you personally qualify.
Where can you ask questions?
You can get advice on eligibility and usage from the Energy Voucher Integrated Center at 1600-3190. The Energy Voucher website, Bokjiro and your neighborhood administrative welfare center also let you check your application status and usage guidance. Application periods and amounts can change, so look at the official notices again after the date checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about the summer usage period that has already passed?
The summer usage period was announced as July 1 to September 30, 2026, and it has passed. The winter period you can use now is announced as October 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027.
Do I get an Energy Voucher just for being a benefit recipient?
No. You must receive livelihood, medical, housing or education benefits, and your household must also include an older person, an infant or young child, a person with a severe, rare or severe intractable disease, a single-parent family, a children-headed household, or a family with many children. You need to meet both conditions.
Do I have to go in person if getting around is difficult?
According to the guidance, if getting around is difficult, someone can apply on your behalf or an official can apply on their own authority. For details, ask your neighborhood administrative welfare center or the Energy Voucher Integrated Center at 1600-3190.
Sources & Verification Date
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.