Korea’s Energy Voucher helps eligible low-income households pay for cooling and heating. The benefit is provided as energy credit rather than cash and can be used for electricity, gas, district heating, kerosene, LPG, or briquettes.
Who Is Eligible?
A household must satisfy both an income requirement and a household-member requirement.
Income Requirement
- The household receives livelihood or medical benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security Act.
Household-Member Requirement
At least one household member must belong to an eligible group, such as:
- A person aged 65 or older
- A child under age six
- A person with a registered disability
- A pregnant person
- A person with a serious, rare, or severe incurable disease
- A single-parent family member
- A child-headed household or qualifying foster household
- A qualifying household with multiple children under the current program rules
Meeting only the income rule is not enough; the household must also include an eligible member.
2026 Benefit Amounts
The total credit varies by household size.
| Household Size | 2026 Total Benefit |
|---|---|
| One person | KRW 295,200 |
| Two people | KRW 407,500 |
| Three people | KRW 532,700 |
| Four or more | KRW 701,300 |
These are total amounts for the full use period, not monthly payments. Households can allocate the credit between cooling and heating according to their needs. The voucher is not counted as ordinary income for other welfare benefits.
Flexible Use Across Seasons
Under the described 2026 arrangement, the credit is no longer rigidly divided into separate summer and winter allocations. A household can use the balance when needed, and unused summer credit can remain available for winter heating.
Use Period and Eligible Energy
- Use period: July 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027
- Eligible expenses: Electricity, city gas, district heating, kerosene, LPG, and briquettes
Electricity, city gas, and district-heating charges may be deducted through the National Happiness Card or an approved billing method. Physical fuels such as kerosene, LPG, and briquettes are generally purchased by card from participating sellers.
How to Apply
- Application period: June 15 through December 31, 2026
- Online: Apply through Bokjiro or Government24 where available
- In person: Visit the community service center responsible for the registered residence
- No National Happiness Card: Request one during the application process; issuance can take time
Do Previous Recipients Need to Reapply?
A household that received the voucher in the previous year may be renewed automatically if there has been no move or change in household members. A household that moved or changed composition should report the change and may need to apply again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is applying in summer too late?
No. Eligible households can use the voucher during the remaining program period, but applying earlier provides more time to use it.
What if I already have a National Happiness Card?
The benefit can generally be connected to the existing card, so a new card may not be necessary.
Does unused summer credit disappear?
Under the flexible-use system described for 2026, the remaining balance can continue to be used for winter energy expenses during the authorized period.
Practical Tips
- Apply early during hot weather if cooling costs are already burdensome.
- Recheck household-member rules even if you were not eligible under an older multi-child standard.
- If household income recently fell, ask the community service center whether the household should also apply for Basic Livelihood Security benefits.
- Confirm the exact benefit amount and current application dates before relying on the voucher.
This article provides general information. Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on current rules and individual circumstances. Confirm details through the official Energy Voucher website, Bokjiro, or the local community service center before applying.