Check Who Gets the 2026 Child Allowance: Age Limit and Regional Amounts
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Key Takeaway
In 2026 the child allowance is paid every month to children under age 9, with a base amount of KRW 100,000 a month. The test is the date of birth, not the school grade.
Outside the capital area and in population-decline regions, regional add-ons bring it to as much as KRW 130,000 a month (Ministry of Health and Welfare and Policy Briefing, 2026 basis).
What changed in 2026?
When the amendment to the Child Allowance Act was promulgated in March 2026, two things changed at once. One is the age limit, and the other is an extra amount that depends on where you live.
| Item | Before the amendment | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Age limit | Under 8 | Under 9 |
| Base amount | KRW 100,000 a month | KRW 100,000 a month (capital area) |
| Regional add-on | None | Added outside the capital area and in population-decline regions |
| Maximum amount | KRW 100,000 a month | KRW 130,000 a month |
Children who had lost the allowance when they turned 8 under the old rule received the payments for January through March retroactively on April 24. Policy Briefing said about 430,000 children, born from January 2017 through March 2018, were covered by this back payment.
Until what age is it paid?
In 2026 the allowance is paid up to the month before the month of the child's 9th birthday. The age limit is scheduled to rise by one year every year.
- 2026: under 9
- 2027: under 10
- 2028: under 11
- 2030: under 13
Even classmates may reach the cutoff at different times depending on their birthdays. Check against your child's date of birth.
How much do you get where you live?
The capital area stays at KRW 100,000 a month. Everywhere else, an amount is added as shown below (Policy Briefing, as of 2026-05-12).
| Area of residence | Add-on | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|
| Capital area | None | KRW 100,000 |
| Non-capital area | +KRW 5,000 | KRW 105,000 |
| Priority population-decline area | +KRW 10,000 | KRW 110,000 |
| Special population-decline area | +KRW 20,000 | KRW 120,000 |
| When received as a local gift certificate | +KRW 10,000 more | Up to KRW 130,000 |
The regional add-ons take effect in sequence after each local government amends its ordinance. Even if you live in one of these categories, check separately, through your community service center or your city or county office notice, whether your city or county has already put it into effect.
How do you apply?
There are three ways to apply.
- With the birth registration: At the community service center, use the Happy Birth one-stop service to apply for the child allowance, the parental benefit, and the First Meeting Voucher in one go.
- Gov24: Log in, then choose Happy Birth in the one-stop service.
- Bokjiro: Choose the child allowance under welfare service applications. It works on both PC and the mobile app.
Online applications are only possible if the guardian is a parent. If a grandparent or foster parent is raising the child, you need to visit the community service center. Once you apply, you do not need to apply again until the age limit ends.
When is it deposited?
The pay date is the 25th of every month. If the 25th falls on a weekend or a public holiday, the money arrives on the business day before. In principle, processing of an application is finished within 14 days, and the first allowance arrives on the 25th of the month after processing is complete.
The month you start receiving also depends on when you apply, so keep that in mind.
| When you apply | Payment starts |
|---|---|
| Within 60 days of birth | Retroactive to the month of birth |
| After 60 days from birth | From the month you applied |
If you put off the birth registration, you may miss several months of payments at the start. The simplest approach is to apply through the one-stop service when you register the birth.
What happens from 2027 on?
The government has announced a plan to raise the age limit by one year every year until 2030, extending it to children under 13. A child who is 8 now may become eligible again in 2027 depending on the birthday, so check the age limit that changes each year against your child's date of birth.
Last checked: 2026-10-13. Whether the regional add-ons are in effect and your own eligibility should be confirmed again on Bokjiro (bokjiro.go.kr) or at the Ministry of Health and Welfare call center, 129.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child is in second grade of elementary school. Can we still get the child allowance?
It depends on the date of birth, not the school grade. In 2026 the allowance is paid up to the month before the month of the child's 9th birthday.
Can I receive the child allowance and the parental benefit together?
They are separate programs, and you can apply for both at the same time through the Happy Birth one-stop service when you register the birth. Whether your own household qualifies is something to check on Bokjiro or at your community service center.
I registered the birth late and applied after the 60 days had passed
If you apply more than 60 days after birth, payment starts from the month you applied, not the month of birth. Even if you are late, it is better to apply right away.
Sources & Verification Date
- Policy Briefing: Up to KRW 130,000 a month, the child allowance now extends to elementary school children, and how to apply (2026-05-12) · Verified
- Ministry of Health and Welfare: Child allowance payment policy guide (last updated 2026-03-31) · Verified
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.