---
title: "2026 Energy Voucher Application Period, Support Amounts by Household Size, and How to Use"
locale: en
category: policy_guide
category_name: "Policy Guide"
translation_status: reviewed
license: cc_by
author: "Injoys Editorial Team"
source_url: https://injoys.com/en/articles/2026-energy-voucher-application-amount-and-usage
published_at: 2026-08-19T23:18:31+09:00
---

# 2026 Energy Voucher Application Period, Support Amounts by Household Size, and How to Use

> Households that meet both the income and household member criteria can apply for the 2026 Energy Voucher. Online applications through Bokjiro are open until December 31, 2026. For the in-person application deadline, contact the Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Center for your registered address.

## Key Points

- Check both whether you receive livelihood, medical, housing, or education benefits and whether you meet the household member criteria.
- Check whether restrictions on duplicate support, such as coal briquette coupons and emergency welfare fuel assistance, apply to you.
- Prepare your ID, a recent energy bill, and any documents required if applying through a representative.
- Apply online through Bokjiro by December 31, 2026, or check the in-person application deadline with the Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Center for your registered address.
- Confirm that your selected method, either a bill deduction or the National Happiness Card, has been applied to your actual bill and payment.

The online application period for the 2026 Energy Voucher is **from June 15 to December 31, 2026**, and the usage period is **from July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027**. As of August 19, 2026, online applications are open through Bokjiro, while the period for in-person applications must be confirmed with the Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Center for your registered address.

Before applying, you should check **whether you meet both the income eligibility criteria and household member characteristics criteria**, whether the benefit overlaps with other winter fuel assistance, and which type of energy you will use and how.

## Key Information Before Applying

| Item | 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Application period | June 15–December 31, 2026 |
| Usage period | July 1, 2026–May 31, 2027 |
| Online application | Bokjiro |
| In-person application | Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Center for your registered address |
| Benefit unit | Household, not individual |
| Usage method | Summer utility bill deduction; winter utility bill deduction or Kookmin Haengbok Card |

The benefit amount is not cash paid each month, but the maximum amount of energy costs a household may use during the applicable program year. Even if an application is approved, the selected usage method must be properly linked to the utility bill or card payment before the benefit can actually be used.

## Who Can Apply

The Energy Voucher is generally available to **households that meet both** of the following criteria.

### 1. Income Eligibility Criteria

Check whether the household receives one of the following benefits under the National Basic Livelihood Security System.

- Livelihood benefits
- Medical benefits
- Housing benefits
- Education benefits

Having a benefit application under review may differ from having been officially approved as a recipient. It is safest to verify your current eligibility through Bokjiro or the competent Administrative Welfare Center.

### 2. Household Member Characteristics Criteria

The recipient or a member listed in the resident registration record must fall under the official criteria. The main categories are as follows.

- Older adult
- Infant or young child
- Registered person with a disability
- Pregnant woman
- Person with a severe disease, rare disease, or severe intractable disease
- Person belonging to a single-parent family
- Person eligible for protection, such as a child-headed household
- Household meeting the criteria for a multi-child household

The age reference date, scope of recognized diseases, method for verifying pregnancy, and detailed multi-child criteria are determined according to the program-year notice. Even if a family member appears to fit one of these categories, recognition may differ based on resident registration information and administrative records, so official verification is required.

### Cases That May Be Excluded or Restricted from Support

Households in which all members receive benefits at residential welfare facilities may be excluded. During winter, restrictions on overlapping support may also apply to other programs, such as coal briquette coupons or fuel cost assistance under the Emergency Welfare Support program.

Do not decide to forgo applying simply because you have received other assistance. It is advisable to tell the Administrative Welfare Center the name of the assistance program and when it was paid to confirm whether overlapping support is permitted.

## Benefit Amount by Household Size

The 2026 benefit limits by household size are as follows.

| Household size | 2026 benefit amount |
|---|---:|
| 1-person household | 295,200 won |
| 2-person household | 407,500 won |
| 3-person household | 532,700 won |
| Household of at least 4 people | 701,300 won |

### Points to Note When Interpreting the Benefit Amount

- The amounts in the table are not monthly payments but the **total benefit limit per household**.
- The same bracket applies to households of at least 4 people, even if the number of household members increases.
- The benefit is not deposited or withdrawn as cash.
- It is used for eligible energy bill deductions or payments with the Kookmin Haengbok Card.
- Any amount remaining after the usage period ends is not refunded in cash and should not be considered a benefit that automatically carries over to the next program year.

## What to Prepare Before Applying

Preparing the following information before applying online or in person will make processing easier.

- A means of verifying the applicant’s identity
- Registered address and household member information
- Type of benefits currently being received
- Information verifying the household member characteristics criteria
- If requesting a bill deduction, a recent electricity, city gas, or district heating bill and customer number
- If using the Kookmin Haengbok Card, the card possession and issuance status
- For an application by proxy, documents required to verify the authorization relationship and identity

Documents for an application by proxy or additional supporting documents may vary depending on the household’s circumstances, so it is advisable to contact the Administrative Welfare Center you plan to visit in advance.

## Application Process: Online and In Person

### Online Application Through Bokjiro

1. Access Bokjiro and verify your identity.
2. Select Energy Voucher from the welfare benefit application menu.
3. Verify the applicant and household member information.
4. Enter the requested information required for bill deductions, including the energy provider and customer number.
5. Submit the application and check its receipt status.

For online applications, you may be asked to provide supplementary information if additional verification of resident registration information, benefit eligibility, or household member information is needed. Even after submission, you should check the status on Bokjiro and monitor communications from the competent Administrative Welfare Center.

### In-Person Application at an Administrative Welfare Center

1. Identify the Eup/Myeon/Dong Administrative Welfare Center for your registered address.
2. Bring your ID and prepared materials, such as a recent energy bill.
3. Ask the staff member to verify your benefit eligibility, household member characteristics, and whether restrictions on overlapping support apply.
4. Complete the application and any required consent forms.
5. After submission, confirm the decision and whether the selected usage method has been applied.

If you have mobility difficulties or cannot apply in person, you should first ask the competent center whether an application by proxy is permitted and which documents are required.

## How to Use the Benefit in Summer and Winter

The Energy Voucher is used differently depending on the season and energy source.

| Category | Main usage method | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Electricity bill deduction | Confirm that the electricity customer number and address eligible for the deduction are correct |
| Winter | Bill deduction for electricity, city gas, district heating, etc. | Confirm that the selected provider and customer information match |
| Winter | Payment with the Kookmin Haengbok Card | Before payment, confirm that the energy source and retailer are eligible |

### Bill Deduction Method

Under this method, the voucher amount is deducted from a bill issued by the energy provider. Because no separate cash payment is made, you should check the following on the first bill to which the benefit is applied.

- Whether the voucher deduction is shown
- Whether the address on the application matches the actual usage address
- Whether the customer number is correct
- Whether the information was updated after moving or changing providers

### Kookmin Haengbok Card Method

Under this method, the Kookmin Haengbok Card is used to pay eligible energy costs. During winter, it may be used not only for electricity and city gas but also for energy sources included in the official usage scope, such as kerosene, LPG, and coal briquettes. However, card acceptance may vary depending on the retailer and payment environment, so you must check before making a purchase.

The Kookmin Haengbok Card is not a cash card that allows you to freely withdraw the voucher amount. It must be used only for items and transactions recognized under the Energy Voucher program.

## How to Check Restrictions on Overlapping Support

Winter energy assistance may overlap in purpose with other programs. Checking the following before applying can reduce unnecessary rejections or subsequent adjustments.

1. Confirm the exact name of any fuel assistance program you currently receive or have applied for.
2. Check whether the assistance is provided during summer or winter.
3. Check whether it is provided as cash, a bill deduction, a coupon, or an in-kind benefit.
4. Tell the Administrative Welfare Center the program name and payment period and ask whether overlapping support is permitted.

Coal briquette coupons and fuel cost assistance under the Emergency Welfare Support program, in particular, may be restricted in combination with the winter Energy Voucher, so this should be checked in advance. Restrictions on overlapping support may be determined based on the assistance period and the household’s actual benefit history.

## An Easily Overlooked Point: Completing the Application and Completing Usage Are Different

Even if the application has been received or the household has been approved as eligible, the benefit is not automatically deducted from every energy bill. Actual usage may be delayed due to an incorrect customer number, moving, a change of account holder, a change of provider, or failure to issue the card.

After approval, check the following.

- Whether the deduction appears on the first energy bill
- Whether the Kookmin Haengbok Card has been properly issued and registered
- Whether the new address and customer number have been applied after moving
- Whether any balance remains before the usage period ends
- Whether a change report is required if the number of household members or benefit eligibility changes

If the deduction does not appear, rather than contacting only the energy provider, it is advisable to also ask the competent Administrative Welfare Center whether the application information and usage method have been properly registered.

## Post-Application Checklist

- Have you checked the receipt status through Bokjiro or the Administrative Welfare Center?
- If you received a request for supplementary information, did you submit it within the deadline?
- Have you checked the eligibility decision?
- Are the selected energy source and customer number correct?
- Has the bill deduction or Kookmin Haengbok Card payment actually been applied?
- Have you planned to use the benefit by May 31, 2027?

The application deadline and usage deadline are different. You may **apply online through Bokjiro until December 31, 2026**. The in-person application deadline must be confirmed with the Administrative Welfare Center, and the approved benefit amount must be **used by May 31, 2027**.

## FAQ

### When is the application period for the 2026 Energy Voucher?
Online applications through Bokjiro are accepted from June 15 to December 31, 2026, while the in-person application period must be confirmed with the eup, myeon, or dong Administrative Welfare Center corresponding to your registered residence. You can apply online through Bokjiro or in person at the eup, myeon, or dong Administrative Welfare Center corresponding to your registered residence.

### Can everyone receiving National Basic Livelihood Security benefits receive an Energy Voucher?
No. You must meet both the eligibility criteria for livelihood, medical, housing, or education benefits and the household member characteristic criteria, such as having an older adult, infant or young child, person with a disability, pregnant woman, person with a serious illness, single parent, or multiple children in the household. You may also be excluded or subject to restrictions depending on whether you receive facility-based benefits or duplicate support.

### How much is the 2026 Energy Voucher benefit for a one-person household?
The benefit amount for a one-person household is KRW 295,200. This is not a monthly payment but the total benefit limit that the household can use during the 2026 program year.

### If a family has more than four members, does the benefit amount continue to increase?
No. In 2026, households with at least four members are classified in the same category, and the benefit amount is KRW 701,300.

### Can I receive the Energy Voucher in cash?
It is not provided as a cash payment or cash withdrawal. It is used either as a deduction from energy bills or to pay eligible energy expenses with a Kookmin Happiness Card.

### How do I use the Energy Voucher in summer?
During the summer season, it is mainly used as a deduction from electricity bills. The address, electricity customer number, and billing information provided in the application must match for the deduction to be applied correctly.

### In winter, can I choose between the Kookmin Happiness Card and bill deductions?
During the winter season, you can use bill deductions for electricity, city gas, district heating, and other energy services, or use the Kookmin Happiness Card. Choose based on the energy source used by your household and your purchasing circumstances, and check in advance whether the vendor accepts it.

### Can I apply for the Energy Voucher if I receive coal briquette coupons?
Restrictions on duplicate benefits may apply to winter support. If you have received benefits from another program, including coal briquette coupons or fuel expense assistance under Emergency Welfare Support, you must inform the Administrative Welfare Center of the program name and the support period to confirm exactly whether the restriction applies.

### If I received the Energy Voucher last year, will it be provided automatically again in 2026?
You should not assume that it will be provided automatically solely because you received it last year. Check your benefit eligibility, household composition, and whether your address or usage information has changed, and confirm through Bokjiro or an Administrative Welfare Center whether you need to apply for 2026.

### If I move, will my existing Energy Voucher automatically apply to my new address?
If the supplier and customer number at your new address are different, the existing deduction information may not carry over. After moving, notify the Administrative Welfare Center with jurisdiction over your new address of the changes and check your new bill to confirm whether the deduction has been applied.

### What should I do if I applied but the deduction does not appear on my electricity bill?
First, check your application result, selected usage method, address, and customer number. If the information is correct but the deduction has still not been applied, it is advisable to contact both the Administrative Welfare Center with jurisdiction over your address and the energy supplier to inquire about the registration and billing status.

### Until when can I use the Energy Voucher?
The usage period for the 2026 program is from July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. Any remaining balance after the usage period ends will not be refunded in cash, so you should check your bills and remaining balance before it expires.

## Sources

- [Bokjiro 2026 Energy Voucher Program Guide](https://www.bokjiro.go.kr/ssis-tbu/cms/pc/customer/notice/1309896_1141.html)
- [Bokjiro 2026 Energy Voucher Application Guide](https://www.bokjiro.go.kr/ssis-tbu/cms/pc/main/popup/1309903_1245.html)
- [Bokjiro Energy Voucher National Happiness Card Guide](https://www.bokjiro.go.kr/ssis-tbu/cms/pc/wlsr/bizGdnc/eleVouGdnc/nhpcrd/index.html)

## Images

![Older woman reviewing energy bills with a laptop and payment card beside a heater](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6OTk1OSwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--9b25a67026fff0bd7f1e37656f91c9c59a0e40af/ai-d5cdacc4.webp)
![Energy voucher guide showing online application, household support levels, and seasonal use](https://injoys.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6OTk2NSwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--09550e238455e061e46ad32644f567171a3a6a5a/ai-97ecf596.webp)