Gyeonggi Province Expands 'Independent Living Settlement Fund for Persons with Disabilities' from 10 Million Won to 15 Million Won

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will raise the ‘Independent Living Settlement Fund for Persons with Disabilities,’ which previously provided 10 million won per person, to 15 million won per person from this year, the highest level nationwide.

The ‘Independent Living Settlement Fund for Persons with Disabilities’ has been supported by the province since 2017 to help severely disabled individuals establish stable independent living and participate in social activities. To date, a total of 420 million won has been disbursed, benefiting 42 individuals.

This year's support targets include 21 individuals exiting disability residential facilities or completing experience homes, which provide living program training in a home-like environment.

When eligible recipients apply to the city or county where the facility is located within 6 months from their facility exit date, they receive initial living expenses that can be used for rental deposits, monthly rent, and household goods purchases.

Park Geun-tae, director of the Disabled Persons' Independent Living Support Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, “We hope this increase in settlement funds will contribute to the stable community settlement and practical independent living of persons with disabilities.”

Meanwhile, the province plans to strengthen management to ensure the settlement fund is used efficiently through verification of prior support for settlement fund recipients and continuous monitoring of the independent living status of fund recipients.