Basic pension online applications to be streamlined from October

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Thursday that it will streamline the online application process for the basic pension starting in October.

The ministry will reorganize the steps involved — including a spouse's consent to provide financial information and requests for benefit-application history management — so applicants can complete everything in a single session.

In addition, spouses will be able to give their consent to share financial information via mobile message, eliminating the need to appear in person.

Under the current system, when a couple applies together, the spouse must either give consent in person at the office or register separately at a later date.

The ministry will also revamp how supporting documents are submitted, allowing applicants to complete the online application first and submit additional materials — such as lease agreements — afterward.

Benefit-application history management, which previously required a separate registration form, will now require only a simple consent during the application process.

Because many elderly people are not comfortable with digital technology, the vast majority of basic pension applications have been filed through in-person consultations at local governments, leaving online uptake very low.

Of the roughly 887,400 applicants last year, 93.1 percent applied through local governments, 3.6 percent through the National Pension Service and 3.4 percent online.

During the online application process, elderly users most commonly struggled with giving a spouse's consent to share financial information and with downloading and submitting required forms.

"We aim to improve the online application process by focusing on the steps that elderly users find most difficult," said Son Ho-jun, the ministry's pension policy director. "We will continue to improve the basic pension application system going forward."