Eligibility Requirements for 'Spousal Birth Allowance' for Self-employed Individuals and Freelancers Relaxed

The eligibility requirements for the 'Spousal Birth Leave Allowance' provided to male self-employed individuals and freelancers in Seoul have been relaxed.

On the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has significantly eased the application requirements for the 'Spousal Birth Leave Allowance' for individual self-employed persons and freelancers. This measure is aimed at enabling more citizens to take advantage of the program.

The 'Spousal Birth Allowance,' in effect since March, is a program that provides 800,000 won to male self-employed individuals and freelancers who are not legally entitled to spousal birth leave support when their spouse gives birth.

Since the application process began on March 11, the city has reviewed cases where applicants were disqualified due to not meeting eligibility criteria and has improved the system in consideration of areas that may need support and the program's fairness.

Eligibility for Applications if Resident in 'Seoul'

The recent revisions include the elimination of the 'spousal residency requirement in Seoul' and the 'business location requirement in Seoul.'

Previously, both the applicant, spouse, and newly born child had to be registered as residents in Seoul to apply. Now, it is sufficient for only the applicant and the newborn child to reside in Seoul.

Additionally, the requirement that a self-employed individual's business location must be in Seoul has been removed, meaning support is available regardless of the business's location, as long as the residency is in Seoul.

This signifies that the support eligibility will be assessed based on the 'residence' as the foundation for caregiving and parenting in households that have given birth.

For births occurring between April and June, applications can be submitted until the end of November.

The application period has also been extended. For those who give birth between April 22 and June 30, 2024, applications can be made until the end of November.

This program is part of the 'Birth Support Seoul Project' initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to address the crisis of low birth rates. Applications have been accepted since March 11 on the Mindful Information Portal.

In just over two months since its implementation, a total of 462 individuals have applied for support.

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