Prepare for a call about Korea's welfare outreach survey

Who does the fifth survey focus on, and when does it end?

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's October 18 press release sets the survey for eight weeks, from October 19 to December 11. Local authorities will receive details of 190,000 people. With people identified through local governments' own outreach, the total is expected to reach about 250,000. The system analyzes 49 types of crisis indicators from 23 institutions, including electricity and water disconnections, to identify households that may need help.

Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare press release (2026-10-18), checked 2026-10-19

The financial crisis group has increased from 16,000 in the fourth round to 17,000 in this round. Data on people whose debt adjustment arrangements have been suspended is also being used. The figures in the table are numbers of people.

What should I explain when staff call or arrange a visit?

Local welfare offices use AI-assisted initial consultations and visits or calls from outreach health and welfare teams to check whether a household is in crisis. Explain your current circumstances in concrete terms so staff can connect you with support that fits your needs.

1. Note when your income fell or stopped, and why you are struggling to cover living costs.
2. Tell staff about overdue expenses such as electricity bills, your debts and whether your debt adjustment arrangement has been suspended.
3. Explain any difficulty living independently because of disability, or any need for care from family members.
4. Ask about the visit schedule and what to bring. This press release does not give a standard document checklist.

If you want to verify who contacted you, look up your community service center's main number yourself, call it and ask about the department and the call you received. For questions about income and asset checks on existing benefits, see the second-half welfare benefit eligibility review.

What happens after the survey?

Staff check whether a household is in crisis and connect it with suitable welfare services. From 2015 to 2025, local authorities surveyed 9.45 million people and provided public or private welfare services to 4.61 million (48.8%). That rate does not guarantee support for anyone in this round.

If you are referred for emergency welfare support, staff check the crisis circumstances, income, assets and other requirements. The ministry's emergency welfare support guide includes outreach survey subjects whom the relevant department recommends because they cannot meet living costs. It also covers electricity disconnection or a disconnection warning due to unpaid bills following lost or substantially reduced income.

The income ceiling is 75% of the standard median income: KRW 1,923,179 for a one-person household and KRW 4,871,054 for a four-person household. Asset limits apply as well, so ask which amounts apply to your household during the consultation.

The process is a request or report, an on-site check, a support decision, payment, then a follow-up investigation and eligibility review. You may have to repay support if the review finds it inappropriate. You can appeal to your city, county or district office within 30 days of being notified of the decision.

Can I contact 129 or my community service center without a survey call?

If you are struggling to meet living costs, you can request an initial consultation through 129, your community service center or your city, county or district office without waiting for outreach. Emergency support consultations on 129 are available 24 hours a day; general consultations run from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays.

Starting Friday, October 30, the illegal private lending victim reporting center and a dedicated Credit Counseling and Recovery Service desk are scheduled to make urgent referrals to local authorities when people receiving victim counseling also need welfare support. If you are speaking with either service, explain any difficulty covering living costs too.

If winter heating bills are a concern, see emergency welfare winter fuel support conditions and energy voucher eligibility. Tell your community service center about your current heating costs during the consultation.

Checked: 2026-10-19