Poverty Reduction

South Africa Child Support Grant

South Africa's largest social protection program providing a monthly cash grant to primary caregivers of children in low-income households, reaching over 13 million children and serving as a critical tool for reducing child poverty and improving nutrition, health, and educational outcomes.

Type: Benefit Amount: ZAR 530 per child per month (2024/25 rate, approximately USD $29) Deadline: Rolling Location: South Africa

South Korea Basic Pension (기초연금)

The South Korea Basic Pension (기초연금, Gicho Yeon-geum) is a means-tested social pension program that provides monthly cash payments to Korean citizens and long-term residents aged 65 and above who fall within the bottom 70 percent of the income distribution, addressing one of the highest elderly poverty rates among OECD nations and providing essential income support to approximately 6 million senior citizens as a complement to the contributory National Pension system.

Type: Benefit Amount: Up to KRW 323,180/month single or KRW 517,080/month for couples Deadline: Rolling Location: South Korea

South Korea National Basic Livelihood Security System (국민기초생활보장제도)

South Korea National Basic Livelihood Security System (국민기초생활보장제도) is a comprehensive social assistance program administered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) that guarantees minimum living standards for low-income households by providing four categories of means-tested benefits — livelihood, medical, housing, and education — to individuals and families whose recognized income falls below specific percentages of the national median income. Enacted in 1999 and reformed in 2015 to adopt a customized benefit system (맞춤형 급여체계), the program serves approximately 2.4 million beneficiaries and represents the cornerstone of South Korea's social safety net.

Type: Benefit Amount: Up to KRW 713,102/month plus housing, medical, and education benefits Deadline: Rolling Location: South Korea

Spain Ingreso Minimo Vital (Minimum Living Income)

Spain Ingreso Mínimo Vital (IMV) is a non-contributory national minimum income benefit administered by the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) that guarantees a minimum level of income to individuals and families in situations of economic vulnerability, established in June 2020 as a permanent structural benefit.

Type: Benefit Amount: EUR 565.37 to EUR 1,243.82/month, plus child supplements Deadline: Rolling Location: Spain