Child Support Advances: KRW 200,000 Cap, Income Test Ends

People owed child support who have an enforceable title can apply for the child support advance payment program. The removal of the income requirement applies to decisions made on or after October 29, 2026. Prepare your court documents and payment records and submit them to the Child Support Agency. The guidance does not specify a separate application deadline.

The amounts and requirements are based on the agency’s guidance checked on October 25, 2026, and the amended law.

How to apply for child support advance payments

Apply through the Child Support Agency’s website or by mail. The program has been in operation since July 1, 2025. As of October 25, 2026, the removal of the income requirement has not yet taken effect.

1. Check your child’s date of birth and the child support details in your enforceable title.
2. Gather payment records for the 3 months immediately before the application month.
3. Prepare proof of efforts to secure payment and the latest application documents.
4. Complete the self-assessment and consent to using the service on the online application page.
5. Enter information about the applicant, household members, and the respondent.
6. Attach the documents and check that your application has been completed.

Online applications require applicants to register for an account and log in themselves. You must also include the application form when applying by mail. You can find the application page at Child Support Agency Support Application.

Before mailing, check the address against the Advance Payment Program Guide.

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Child support advances help meet children's everyday needs.AI-generated image

When will the income limit for child support advance payments be removed?

The requirement that income be at most 150% of the standard median income will be removed on October 29, 2026. Whether the new rules apply depends on when the advance payment decision is made. Do not assume which rules apply based only on the application date.

The following is the wording on applicability in Article 2(2) of the supplementary provisions to the amended Act on Enforcing and Supporting Child Support Payment.

This applies to cases in which a decision on child support advance payments is made under the amended provisions of Article 21-7 on or after this Act takes effect.

The legal amendment concerning the average amount paid has already taken effect. Its effective date differs from the date the income requirement is removed. You can check the effective dates and applicability provisions in the Enactment and Amendment Text for Act No. 21600.

Application requirements that remain after the income requirement is removed

Even after the income requirement is removed, child support claims and payment status will still be reviewed. An enforceable title is a legal document that provides the basis for compulsory enforcement. Examples include a record of child support obligations or a judgment.

Receiving some child support does not, by itself, exclude you from applying. You must compare the average monthly amount actually received with the advance payment amount. Rules provide for converting payment arrangements that are not monthly into monthly amounts.

If you do not have an enforceable title, first seek a legal assistance consultation with the agency. Having a judgment and providing proof of efforts to secure payment are separate matters. The agency’s FAQ states that filing only a request to change child support does not count as proof of such efforts. You can find details in the Agency FAQ.

Documents for child support advance payment applications

Prepare the application form, court documents, payment records, and proof of efforts to secure payment. The list below follows the agency’s published document submission guidance. Guidance issued before the change takes effect still contains the previous income limit. When you apply, check the latest forms and any requests for additional documents.

If you do not consent to information sharing, you may be asked to provide documents concerning family relationships. A copy of your bankbook may also be required depending on the circumstances. Check the detailed list in the Agency’s Document Submission Guide.

What if I do not have the service or finality documents?

Ask the service counter at the court that handled your case whether the documents can be issued. In certain cases, the agency accepts the My Case Search screen as an alternative. The general submission guidance requires a screen showing the date of receipt and the date the decision became final. For cases in which a certificate of finality cannot be issued, check the alternative documents listed in the Documents FAQ.

Child support advance payment amounts and calculation example

Support is up to 200,000 won per child per month. It cannot exceed the child support amount specified in the enforceable title. Using the example of 2 children in the agency’s FAQ, the limits are calculated as follows.

This calculation assumes that both children meet the eligibility requirements. Check the amount in the enforceable title before multiplying the number of children by 200,000 won. The example comes from the Agency’s Amounts and Program FAQ.

Under the advance payment system, the government pays first and then recovers the money from the debtor. For the remaining child support above the advance payment limit, consider separate debt collection support or other options. When calculating that claim, you must exclude advance payments already received.

Application status before and after the change takes effect

If you applied before the change takes effect but are still awaiting a decision, check the applicability provisions in the supplementary provisions. Those provisions do not provide for automatic approval of previously rejected applications. First establish whether your case is still under review.

Distinguish the self-assessment result from the final payment decision. The agency’s FAQ also advises applying by mail if eligibility is difficult to determine. You can check the status of a case under review in My Page on the website.

The transaction record period changes with the application month

The required transaction records do not cover the 90 days counted backward from the application date. Prepare records for the 3 months immediately before the month you apply. Applying the official rule to applications in October and November 2026 gives the following periods.

If you gather documents in October but apply in November, the review period changes. In that case, prepare October’s transaction records as well. If payments are not scheduled monthly, ask the agency how the amount is calculated.

Payments and reporting after approval

Even after approval, you must report child support actually received and changes to payment eligibility. The agency checks these regularly. Changes in the amount of child support received or in the person actually raising the child may affect payments.

1. Check the decision notice and processing status in My Page.
2. Report child support received according to the regular notices.
3. Report changes to payment eligibility, such as a change in the person raising the child.

The agency’s FAQ states that payments for cases decided by the middle of the month are made on the 25th of each month. It explains that if the decision comes after the application month, payments are made retroactively from the application month. This does not mean that all unpaid child support from before the application will be covered. Check your specific payment schedule in the Payment and Monitoring FAQ and your decision notice.