Title: Iran Announces October Subsidy Disbursement Schedule, Details Enhanced Support for Families
Tehran – The Iranian government has released the detailed payment schedule for the October 2025 direct cash subsidies, reinforcing its commitment to targeted social support. The disbursement is structured to prioritize lower-income deciles while implementing a strategic shift towards non-cash benefits.
Payment Dates and Amounts
The subsidy distribution for the current month will occur in two phases:
- Deciles 1-3: Payments will be deposited into beneficiaries’ accounts on Saturday, October 17, 2025.
- Deciles 4-9: Payments for these groups are scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The standard payment amounts are as follows:
- Deciles 1-3: 400,000 Tomans per individual.
- Deciles 4-9: 300,000 Tomans per individual.
This means a single-person household in the first three deciles will receive 400,000 Tomans, while a five-person household will receive 2 million Tomans.
Enhanced Support for Larger Families
In a move to bolster family welfare, the government has outlined an additional support mechanism. Households within deciles 1 to 4 with more than two children will receive an extra 125,000 Tomans for each additional child.
This supplementary payment is specifically designated for the children’s welfare, bringing the individual subsidy for each qualifying child to 535,000 Tomans. The payment for the parents in these households remains at the standard rate, underscoring the policy’s targeted nature.
Strategic Shift to Non-Cash Subsidies
Government officials have clarified that the primary strategic focus is on enhancing non-cash subsidies, known as the “Goods Voucher” (کالابرگ) program. This program, which provides subsidies for essential goods, is distributed quarterly.
While the non-cash subsidy is not scheduled for disbursement in October, authorities have indicated that the next round is planned for November or December 2025. This shift is part of a broader policy to reallocate resources more effectively toward the most vulnerable segments of society.
Refining the Subsidy System
Ehsan Roustami, Head of the Iranian Information and Welfare Center, elaborated on the government’s long-term strategy. He referenced the legal mandate for the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare to phase out subsidies for higher-income deciles (8, 9, and 10) and redirect those resources to the non-cash voucher system.
“Since the beginning of this year, subsidies for approximately one to three million high-income individuals have been removed each month,” Roustami stated. “It is projected that by the end of the year, the total number of removals will reach around 18 million people.”
The government relies on the comprehensive “Iranian Welfare Database,” established in 2013, which aggregates registered household data—including assets, bank accounts, financial transactions, and social status—to determine eligibility. Roustami emphasized that this data-driven, registry-based approach ensures accuracy and is not reliant on self-reporting.
Households with complaints regarding their classification or subsidy removal can file an appeal through the dedicated support portal of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare.
The full implementation of this policy by year’s end is expected to direct freed-up resources toward strengthening the livelihood of lower-income deciles through the enhanced Goods Voucher program.