Energy Voucher Program to Begin Cash Support for Vulnerable Groups

Starting this year, vulnerable groups who previously found it difficult to use vouchers due to energy costs being included in rent or management fees will be able to receive cash support. The government plans to fully implement the energy voucher program beginning in July.

The Climate Energy Environment Ministry announced on June 14 that applications for the 2026 energy voucher program will be accepted from June 15 to December 31 at local administrative welfare centers and through the WelfareNet website.

The energy voucher program is designed to assist vulnerable groups with their energy bills, including electricity, city gas, and district heating. Eligible households include those receiving basic living, medical, housing, and educational benefits under the National Basic Living Security Act, specifically targeting seniors, infants, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and single-parent families that meet certain criteria.

Beneficiary households will have their electricity, city gas, and district heating bills automatically deducted or can use the National Happiness Card to purchase necessary energy sources like kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) directly.

This year, tailored support for beneficiaries will be enhanced, particularly for households that cannot directly use vouchers due to energy costs being included in rent or management fees. A new 'pre-exception payment' system will provide cash support for energy costs during the program period.

Support for vulnerable groups using briquettes will also be expanded. The government plans to launch the 'Briquette Conversion Energy Voucher' program through the Korea Energy Foundation, which will assist in replacing existing briquette boilers with non-briquette boilers and cover the costs of purchasing energy needed for heating fuel conversion.

To improve accessibility for vulnerable groups, the government will strengthen on-site support.

The Climate Ministry plans to expand its 'visiting welfare service,' where postal workers and social workers will directly visit households experiencing difficulties after applying for the energy voucher.

Lee Kyung-soo, director of climate energy policy at the Climate Ministry, stated, "In the face of an energy crisis, we will actively support vulnerable groups in applying for and using energy vouchers to effectively respond to climate change challenges such as heat waves."