Newborns born this year will also be eligible for the government's high fuel price relief payments, though application procedures vary depending on the date of birth, and babies born after July 17 will be excluded.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Wednesday, the government plans to provide high fuel price relief payments ranging from 100,000 won to 600,000 won per person to 70% of the population. Minor children, including newborns, are included in the eligibility pool.
However, procedures differ based on the reference date and date of birth. The government has set the reference date as March 30 this year. Individuals listed on the resident registration as of that date are automatically included as recipients. In such cases, the head of household can apply for the child's portion together with their own.
Applications can be filed through credit card companies or local gift certificate apps and websites, or in person at the community service center of the applicant's registered address. A valid ID is required for in-person applications. Non-heads of household must additionally submit a family relation certificate, resident registration copy, or letter of authorization.
Newborns born after March 30 must go through a separate procedure. After completing birth registration, they can be included as recipients through an objection filing. The application period runs from May 18 to July 17. Online submissions can be made through the e-People portal, and in-person applications are accepted at local community centers.
To prevent congestion in the early stages, a rotating weekday system will be applied during the first week. Based on the last digit of the head of household's birth year, applications can be filed on Monday (1 and 6), Tuesday (2 and 7), Wednesday (3 and 8), Thursday (4 and 9), and Friday (5 and 0).
Babies born on or after July 18, however, are excluded from this round of payments. As a result, babies expected to be born in late July and during the second half of the year will not receive the benefit.
The criteria are similar to those used for the first round of consumption coupons last year. At that time as well, babies born before the reference date were automatically included as recipients, while those born afterward could apply through separate objection filings.
Meanwhile, the first round of applications and payments will begin on the 27th of this month for basic livelihood recipients, near-poor households, and single-parent families. The general public can apply from May 18 to July 3.
Basic livelihood recipients will receive 550,000 to 600,000 won, while near-poor households and single-parent families will receive 450,000 to 500,000 won. Other recipients will receive 100,000 won in the Seoul metropolitan area, 150,000 won in non-metropolitan regions, 200,000 won in population-decline areas, and 250,000 won in specially designated support areas, depending on their place of residence.
Payments must be used by August 31, and any unused balance will automatically expire. The government plans to finalize and announce the specific payment criteria sometime next month.
