Simplification of Basic Old-Age Pension Online Application Process to Begin in October

The online application process for basic old-age pensions is being further simplified. Currently, most applicants (93.1%) opt for in-person consultations with local governments due to seniors' unfamiliarity with digital systems. In 2025, 826,171 applicants (93.1%) used local government services, 31,357 (3.5%) contacted the National Pension Service, and 29,903 (3.4%) applied online. Analysis revealed seniors faced significant challenges downloading and submitting documents such as spousal financial information consent forms, benefit history management applications, lease agreements, and marital status verification forms. To address this, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will implement a streamlined online application process starting October 2026, reorganizing procedures to make them more senior-friendly and enabling mobile consent via messaging for spousal financial information.