BPN payouts on April 6, but some eligible recipients disqualified

The first round of the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) cash aid will be paid out on April 6 benefiting over 6.8 million households and more than 1.4 million single individuals.

However, Malaysiakini has learned that some individuals who should be getting BPN have been disqualified, particularly part-time students. It understood that a solution is currently being worked out.

The first round of BPN payouts will involve RM5.63 billion.

For B40 households earning less than RM4,000, they will be receiving RM1,000, while the remaining RM600 will be paid next month.

Households earning between RM4,000 and RM8,000 will receive RM500 this month and the balance of RM500 next month.

Single individuals earning less than RM2,000 will be getting RM500 this month, and RM300 next month.

Singles earning between RM2,000 and RM4,000 will be getting RM250 this month, and RM250 next month.

However, not all those who are eligible to get the cash aid have qualified.

A 34-year-old single mother, who wished to be known only as "Shima", should be eligible to receive the aid under the B40 households category.

However, Shima told Malaysiakini that she had been disqualified on the grounds that she is a student.

According to a BPN FAQ guide sheet, only full-time students are not eligible to receive the aid, not part-time students like Shima who studies at a public university.

"It was very strange for the BPN (system) to say that I'm a student when I'm just studying part-time.

"I think it's odd. They don't have data that I pay income tax? But they have data that I'm a student?" she said.

Those who are disqualified have the option to appeal when they check their BPN status online.

However, at present for those disqualified for being students, the choices available for them to appeal are listed as either: "Finished studies" "Still studying" and "Not related".

A check on Twitter also found that many part-time students who claim to qualify for BPN are running into the same problem.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Finance Ministry regarding this and understands that the matter is being looked into.

Those who have been disqualified from receiving BPN have until the end of April to submit an appeal.

New applications for those not in the system but qualify for BPN can also be made by end of April at the latest. - Mkini