BSH phase 3 payments to be made starting Friday

The third phase of the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) cost of living assistance payments will be made from this Friday, involving an allocation of RM3 billion.

According to a statement from the Finance Ministry today, it will benefit almost 4.28 million recipients, comprising 3.75 million households and 530,000 single individuals (40-59 years old).

The amount of BSH aid awarded will take into account 3.8 million children of BSH recipients, aged 18 and below.

For households earning less than RM2,000, they will receive RM600 while single individuals will receive RM400 respectively.

Apart from that, households earning between RM2,001 and RM3,000 will receive RM350, while RM3,001 to RM4,000 households will get RM100 each.

For new eligible BSH recipients who have yet to receive an allocation from Phases 1 and 2, the aid will be disbursed together with Phase 3.

It also added that an additional RM120 will be allocated to each child, aged 18 and below, limited to four children per household, and payment will be disbursed together with Phase 3.

For example, Ali who is earning below RM2,000 and has four eligible children, will receive RM1,580 including RM300 in Phase 1 (January), RM200 in Phase 2 (March) and RM1,080 in Phase 3 (July).

“The BSH payment is more targeted because it also takes into account the number of eligible children in each family,” it said.

Payment will be credited directly to the recipients’ bank accounts registered with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

For those without a bank account, cash payment can be obtained at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branches until Dec 31.

The ministry also said that to ensure that the BSH programme is targeted at those who are truly qualified, the appeal application period will be open from Aug 7 to Sept 6.

“With this appeal process, some of those who have had their applications rejected, will still be given space to appeal along with the submission of relevant documents for consideration by the IRB,” it said.

Appeals can be made online at the BSH portal or applicants can visit any IRB branches, Revenue Service Centre and Urban Transformation Centre.

- Bernama