"Spouse is included even if living separately"... 5 key criteria to note when applying for SH public housing

The point where applicants preparing for SH public housing subscriptions experience the most confusion is the 'eligibility requirements.' This is because the outcome is determined by the scope of homeless household members and whether income is calculated before or after taxes. This video provided by SH tv_Seoul Housing & Urban Development Corporation contains the five most frequent core questions asked by subscribers and the answers from the person in charge.

Spouse is included in homeless household members even if living separately

The first thing to check when applying for a subscription is whether one is a 'homeless household member.' Even if the applicant themselves is homeless, if any member belonging to the same household owns a house or pre-sale purchase rights, the subscription may be restricted. Generally, homeless household members include the applicant, the spouse, and the lineal ascendants (parents, etc.) or lineal descendants (children, etc.) listed on the same resident registration with the applicant or the spouse.

The point to note here is the spouse's place of residence. Even if the spouse is in a separate household on the resident registration, if they are confirmed as a spouse on the family relationship certificate, they are included in the homeless household members. On the other hand, siblings are, in principle, not included in the homeless household members. However, since specific judgment criteria may vary by announcement, one must check the relevant recruitment announcement before applying.

Income is based on 'pre-tax' standards, and car value is also subject to asset screening

One must be careful regarding misunderstandings about the income calculation method. The income standard for SH subscriptions is based on 'pre-tax income,' not the 'after-tax actual amount' deposited into the bank account. The monthly average household income is calculated by comprehensively combining not only earned income but also business income, property income, and other income. In the case of bonuses or welfare points, the calculation standards may vary depending on the payment method or whether they are taxable, making it difficult to calculate accurately using only a salary statement. Therefore, checking the Social Security Information System inquiry standard is the most accurate.

Asset standards also require thorough inspection. In addition to real estate and financial assets (deposits, savings, stocks, insurance, etc.), automobiles are also included in the asset screening. Automobiles are not only added to the total asset amount, but some announcements also apply a separate upper limit for car value. However, since exception criteria may apply depending on the car model or purpose, one must check the types of assets held, the method of deducting debt, and the car value calculation standards through the announcement.

Beware of invalidation during duplicate applications... Priority supply is a separate allocation method

When checking multiple announcements simultaneously, it is easy to feel confused about whether duplicate applications are possible. Since SH announcements have different eligibility requirements depending on the supply target (youth, newlyweds, the elderly, etc.), it is a priority to first identify which type one belongs to. If it is difficult to check the announcement, one can use the 'Find the Public Housing Type Suited for Me' service on the SH website.

Regarding duplicate applications, regulations must be strictly followed. If a duplicate application is made for the same announcement, or if homeless household members apply redundantly, it may be treated as invalid. In particular, if a spouse living in a separate household applies to the same announcement individually, it can also be a reason for invalidation. Even if one is selected for multiple announcements, restrictions may follow, such as having to choose only one announcement or having a previous selection canceled.

Finally, the difference between points (extra points) and priority supply must be clearly distinguished. Points is a method of assigning scores by summing up the continuous residence period in Seoul, the period of being homeless, age, number of dependents, and the number of subscription savings payments when applicants are in the same rank. On the other hand, priority supply is a method of first supplying quantities separately allocated to those who meet specific requirements, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, those supporting elderly parents, national merit recipients, and households with two or more children. Therefore, a strategic subscription method is to first check if one is a target for priority supply and then examine the detailed point criteria for that type.

Source: original video (YouTube)