New category for Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia recipients

 

Eligibility for the Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) cash aid will be expanded under Budget 2023.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has announced a new category of recipients for the BKM under next year’s budget.

Households with five or more children that are earning less than RM2,500 per month will now qualify for RM2,500 in cash aid.

“This new category is part of the government’s efforts to lighten the burden of families with many children,” Zafrul said in the Budget 2023 presentation in Parliament today.

Meanwhile, households of the same income bracket that have between one and four children can receive between RM1,000 to RM2,000.

For households earning between RM2,500 to RM5,000, they would qualify for an amount between RM500 and RM1,250, depending on the number of children in the household.

For single senior citizens and singles in general, they can receive RM600 and RM350 respectively, depending on their income.

Single parents will also receive an additional RM500 cash aid in 2023.

On top of that, there will be a CahayaMata Keluarga Malaysia initiative, where mothers of households receiving BKM will get a one-off RM500 cash aid if they give birth in 2023.

Poverty assistance

Zafrul also announced the expansion of the eligibility for welfare recipients, which will now be in line with the food poverty line income at RM1,169.

“With this decision, more than 450,000 households qualify to receive the Welfare Department’s monthly aid.

“The needy have been given priority specifically with the allocation of RM2.5 billion for 2023, which is a significant increase compared to RM1.5 billion in 2020,” he said.

The coverage of the electricity bill subsidy up to RM40 is also in line with the food poverty line income, he said.

Previously, the subsidy was only given to households earning RM980 and below per month, but now, in line with the food poverty line income, it will be offered to households earning RM1,169 and below every month.

The government also remains committed to the welfare and education of children, the minister said.

To lighten the burden of parents providing early education to their children, Zafrul said the government will extend tax relief of up to RM3,000 for registered nurseries (taska) and preschools (tadika) fees, up to assessment year 2024. - Mkini