## 1. Nursing Allowance and Disability Activity Support – Now a Choice (Effective September 1, 2026)
What's Changed — Previously, veterans with disabilities (grades 1-2) receiving nursing allowance were unable to utilize the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s disability activity support services (activity assistance, home visits, visiting bathing). Grades 3-7 were eligible starting in September 2024, but grades 1-2 were excluded due to overlap with the nursing allowance.
The revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Disability Welfare Act (approved by the National Council on July 28) allows veterans with disabilities (grades 1-2) under the age of 65 to choose between nursing allowance and disability activity support services, starting September 1.
- Eligibility: Veterans with disabilities (grades 1-2) under the age of 65 who have completed disability registration. - Options: ① Existing nursing allowance (Ministry of Veterans Affairs) ② Disability activity support services (Ministry of Health and Welfare) - Application Process 1. If disability registration is not complete, register first (activity support is only available to registered disabled individuals) 2. Apply to the relevant Veterans Affairs (District) Office to relinquish nursing allowance. 3. Apply for disability activity support services at the resident center (dong/eup/myeon) of your place of residence.
Things to Consider Before Deciding — Nursing allowance is received in cash, while activity support is received in service hours, so which is better depends on each household. The activity support hours are determined based on the investigation results after application, so it is safer to roughly estimate the hours you will receive before deciding whether to relinquish the nursing allowance.
⚠️ It is not stated in the announcement materials whether relinquishing nursing allowance can be reversed later, or how the allowance will be settled at the time of conversion. Be sure to confirm with the relevant Veterans Affairs (District) Office before applying to relinquish nursing allowance.
## 2. Changes to Veterans’ Medical and Welfare Systems This Year
In addition to the nursing allowance option, there are several other changes affecting the lives of veterans’ families this year.
- Disability Compensation Income Tax Credit (Effective January 1, 2026) — When calculating income for basic livelihood guarantees and other welfare support, 430,000 won (equivalent to the disability pension) will be deducted from disability compensation and excluded from income calculations. This is intended to reduce the problem of disability compensation preventing access to welfare support.
- Expansion of Dementia Treatment Cost Support (Effective August 1, 2026) — Veterans’ medical beneficiaries can now receive dementia treatment cost support not only at veterans’ hospitals and contracted hospitals, but also at dementia peace centers and general hospitals. ⚠️ See the original document for support limits and detailed eligibility.
## 3. Gangwon and Jeju to be Designated as Quasi-Veterans’ Hospitals (December 1, 2026)
To improve access to medical care in regions without veterans’ hospitals, Gangneung University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital are scheduled to be designated as quasi-veterans’ hospitals. Veterans in those areas will have more opportunities to avoid traveling long distances to veterans’ hospitals. ⚠️ Please check the official announcement before implementation for the scope of medical fee reductions applied at quasi-veterans’ hospitals.
## In Summary
- September 1 onwards – Veterans with disabilities (grades 1-2) under 65: Choice between nursing allowance ↔ disability activity support (disability registration → relinquish nursing allowance → apply at resident center)
- January 1 onwards – 430,000 won of disability compensation is deducted from welfare income calculations
- August 1 onwards – Dementia treatment costs, including those used at dementia peace centers and general hospitals, are also supported
- December 1 (tentative) – Gangneung University Hospital and Jeju National University Hospital designated as quasi-veterans’ hospitals
Many veterans’ benefits do not apply unless you apply for them. For choices that are difficult to reverse, such as relinquishing nursing allowance, we recommend confirming with the relevant Veterans Affairs (District) Office before proceeding.
*This article is an administrative trend guide compiled by Hwang Yun-sang, administrative agent, based on publicly available information. Individual case applicability requires verification with the relevant authority.*