This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction of the elderly and their transfer income (public transfer and private transfer income) using the 11th data of the Korea welfare panel study. In the analysis results, the public transfer income was analyzed to have a significantly positive (+) effect on the life satisfaction in the case of the elderly in general households while in the case of the elderly in low income households, private transfer income was analyzed to have a significantly positive (+) effect on life satisfaction. These results suggest that the public transfer income is 1,019,200 won (monthly average 849,000 won) in the case of the elderly in general households, and the public transfer income is found to have an effect to stabilize the income, which can be expected to increase the life satisfaction. However, in the case of the elderly in low income households, it was found to be 5,080,500 won (monthly average 424,000 won), half of the public transfer income of the elderly in general households. In the case of the elderly of low income households, it can be assumed that the private transfer income, which is the "uncomfortable" income source, fills up the unstable income stabilization gap and raises the life satisfaction.
As a policy suggestion, first, by supplementing the basic pension system, which is an irrational part of public transfer income for the elderly with low income, it is necessary to design policy alternatives to enable economic stabilization of the elderly in low income households. Second, it is also necessary to actively review the introduction of income deduction plans for the transfer income of family members for the low income elderly households.