Major Increase in Disability Support Payments in 2026…Expected Improvement in Quality of Life
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has made a groundbreaking decision to increase disability support payments by 18% from 2026, compared to the current level, to dramatically improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. This is more than just an increase in the amount; it demonstrates the government's strong commitment to substantially supporting the independent living of people with severe disabilities and raising the quality of activity support services to the next level. With this increase, the maximum monthly payment will significantly increase from the existing ₩1.5 million to ₩1.77 million, which is expected to reduce the economic burden on people with disabilities and provide a more stable living environment.
This decision to increase payments will be an important opportunity to fundamentally shift the paradigm of disability welfare policy. The policy focuses on strengthening practical support so that people with disabilities can live independently and confidently in the community, and on improving the quality of services by improving the treatment of activity support service providers. The government will do its best to ensure that people with disabilities can live happily while maintaining their dignity as members of society through this increase.
Activity Support Payment Increase: Specific Details and Expected Effects
This increase in disability support payments means more than simply increasing the amount. The government aims to dramatically improve the quality of services through multifaceted efforts such as expanding the scope of activity support services and strengthening the training of activity support workers, along with the payment increase. Specific details are as follows:
- Payment Increase: 18% increase compared to the current level (up to ₩1.77 million per month)
- Target: All people with disabilities using activity support services (approximately 100,000 people)
- Additional Budget: Approximately ₩320 billion per year
- Implementation Date: From 2026
In particular, this increase includes a budget to improve the treatment of activity support workers, and the government plans to support them so that they can provide high-quality services in a more stable environment. Activity support workers play a key role in helping people with disabilities in their daily lives, and the government will continue to work to ensure that their dedicated efforts are fairly compensated. Increased salaries and improved working conditions for activity support workers will lead to improved service quality, which is expected to greatly contribute to increasing the satisfaction of people with disabilities.
Reactions from the Disability Community and Future Improvement Tasks…Building a Better Welfare System
The disability community generally welcomes this increase in activity support payments, but it is also pointed out that there are still many areas that need improvement. Kim Cheol-soo, chairman of the Korea Differently Abled Persons' Federation, said, “The payment increase is positive, but it is still insufficient,” and emphasized that “discriminatory payment standards based on disability level should be improved, and service usage time should be expanded.”
The payment increase is welcome, but it is still insufficient. Discriminatory payment standards based on disability level must also be improved.
In reality, activity support service usage time and payment amounts are currently differentiated according to disability level, and in the case of people with severe disabilities, they may not receive sufficient support. To solve this problem, the government plans to abolish the disability rating system and improve policies in the direction of providing customized services according to individual needs. In addition, the government is also considering strengthening activity support worker training programs and raising activity support worker qualification standards to improve the quality of activity support services. Through this, the government will support activity support workers with more professional knowledge and skills to provide the best service to people with disabilities.
The government will continue to actively listen to the opinions of people with disabilities and reflect them in policies, and will create practical changes that people with disabilities can feel. The government will do its best to create a society where all people with disabilities are respected without discrimination and can live happily through continuous improvement of the disability welfare system.
Future Policy Directions and Prospects…Strengthening Multifaceted Support for the Independence of People with Disabilities
Starting with this increase in disability support payments, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to promote various policies to create an environment where people with disabilities can live together in the community. The government will do its best to ensure that people with disabilities can live independently as members of society through multifaceted efforts such as housing support, employment support, and education support to support the independent living of people with disabilities.
A payment increase is inevitable to improve the quality of activity support services for people with disabilities, and we will promote both improvement of treatment for activity support workers and expansion of services.
This policy is being promoted in connection with the amendment to the Disability Welfare Act, and will be finalized after a public hearing in April. The government will collect various opinions presented at the public hearing and reflect them in policies, and will promote policies with an open attitude that listens to the voices of people with disabilities. It is hoped that this policy, which will be implemented from 2026, will bring positive changes to the lives of people with disabilities. The government promises to continue to work tirelessly to promote the welfare of people with disabilities. Detailed information on this payment increase can be found on the Ministry of Health and Welfare website or at your nearest community center. Check it out now!
Through this policy, the government will support people with disabilities to lead independent lives in a more stable environment and expand opportunities for social participation. The government will spare no support to ensure that people with disabilities can maximize their potential and contribute to society.
