Title: Five-Day Window: Iranian Households Urged to Utilize E-Coupon Subsidy Credits
In a crucial deadline for millions, eligible Iranian households have just five days to utilize the credits from the fourth phase of the government’s electronic coupon (e-coupon) subsidy scheme, which expires at the end of the current Iranian month of Aban.
Immediate Action Required
According to the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, the soon-to-expire credits are designated for the purchase of essential goods. These include staples such as rice, cooking oil, chicken, dairy products, eggs, and pasta. Officials have emphasized that this credit will become void after the deadline, urging families to act swiftly to avoid losing their entitlement.
Flexible and Cost-Effective Purchasing
The fourth phase of the program allows families to purchase at least three items from the core categories of dairy, protein, and groceries. All transactions are processed without any additional fees. To facilitate modern commerce, the program also supports online purchases from partnered stores. Households can conveniently check their remaining credit balance via the USSD code *5001463# or through the dedicated “Shoma” application.
Authorities have also issued a warning, advising citizens that official notification SMS messages are sent exclusively to the registered mobile number of the head of the household, and any other suspicious messages should be disregarded.
Looking Ahead: Phase Five and Enhanced Options
While the fourth phase concludes, the rollout of the fifth phase of the e-coupon initiative, initially scheduled for Aban, has been rescheduled for the first week of the next month, Azar. Ahmad Meydari, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, has described the e-coupon program as one of the country’s most significant socio-economic measures.
For the upcoming fifth phase, the government has designed two distinct purchasing options to better serve citizens:
- Option One: Households will receive a set credit amount, as in previous phases, and can select from a list of 11 essential goods.
- Option Two: A new model will allow for purchases from 12,000 designated stores at officially set prices with a discount of at least 20 percent.
The primary objective of these measures is to sustain the purchasing power of lower-income deciles and to expand consumer choice for essential commodities.
High Public Satisfaction and Future Plans
Highlighting the program’s reception, Roustami, the Head of the Iranian Information and Welfare Center, reported that public satisfaction with the e-coupon system has reached approximately 95-96%, with increasing household participation in each phase. He further stated that various methods for the fifth phase are being finalized in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Planning and Budget Organization, with a formal announcement expected soon.
As the countdown for the fourth phase continues, the imminent launch of the fifth phase in Azar promises to inject new resources, continuing the government’s support for households across the nation.