This study aims to examine how middle-aged and older individuals and their households cope with the institutional income gap period―the so-called "income crevasse"―which is lengthening as the pensionable age for the old-age pension under the National Pension scheme is raised in stages, and to identify vulnerabilities in these coping strategies in order to propose policy responses. To this end, this study analyzes, in turn, how they cope through labor market participation, adjustments to household income and expenditure, and the drawdown of assets and the use of debt, and also examines the use of old-age income support programs and the perceptions and responses of those experiencing the income gap.