보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Expansion of the issuance of the “Happiness Keeper Bank Notebook” for the prevention of the distraint

- The basic old-age pension and the benefit for the disabled will be protected from the distraint from outside. -

Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Rim, Chae Min) said that the bankbook for the prevention of the distraint (Happiness Keeper Bankbook) which is currently applied to the basic livelihood allowances will be expanded to the “basic old-age pension,” and “the benefit for the disabled” starting from 22 Mar. (The benefit for the disabled refers to both the pension for the disabled and the allowances for the disabled children.) 

As a result of the implementation of the project of bank books for the prevention of the distraint of the basic livelihood allowances from Jun. up to now, it seems there has been some fruits born as the beneficiaries who have been suffering because of the distraint are now able to maintain stable lives. Therefore, it has been decided that the system has been extended to the basic old-age pension and the pension for the disabled.  

* 27,314 are using the Happiness Bank Book as of end of Feb. 2012

This allows some of the beneficiaries of the basic old-age pension and the beneficiaries of the pension for the disabled who have been using the third party account because of the distraint risk, etc to be able to use the Happiness Bank Book, thus protecting their benefits. Consequently, it is expected that they will be able to use the benefit for its original purpose of maintaining their livelihoods.

* 28 thousand persons as of end of Feb. 2012

Twenty four financial institutions are involved in the project of the distraint prevention bankbooks

and those who want to have the bank book newly issued may open their bank books by

submitting the beneficiary verification document to the concerned financial institution.   

If those who are already using the bank book designed for the prevention of the distraint of the

basic livelihood allowances hope to prevent the seizure of the benefit, a project which is being

expanded this time, they can do so by requesting for the change of the account for the welfare

benefit in their districts without having to open a separate bank book.  

The participating financial institutions will offer various benefits* such as the banning of all sorts

of acts that undermine the benefit receipt including the seizure, the right of pledge, the provision

of security, etc as well as the exemption of the transaction fees and the offering of the prime

rates.

* Transaction fee: from 500 won to 1,000 ; Prime rate: 0.2~ 1.5%, etc