Iran Announces December Support Package: Enhanced Cash Transfers and Food Credit for Eligible Families
Tehran – In a move to bolster household economic resilience, the Iranian government has detailed its comprehensive support package for the month of Azar (November-December), combining direct cash subsidies with electronic food credits to increase the total support for eligible families.
Simultaneous Payments Boost Household Incomes
The key feature of this month’s support initiative is the concurrent distribution of the routine cash subsidy and the rollout of the fifth phase of the Electronic Coupon Scheme. This simultaneous implementation is set to increase the total financial and in-kind support received by households compared to previous months, according to the Ministry of Cooperation, Labour, and Social Welfare.
Staggered December Payout Schedule
The payment schedule for the direct cash subsidy has been finalized and will be executed in two stages:
- December 15: Lower-income families in deciles 1-3 will receive a cash subsidy of 400,000 Tomans.
- December 20: Families in deciles 4-9 will have their cash subsidy of 300,000 Tomans deposited into their household heads’ bank accounts.
Expanded Support Through Electronic Food Credit
Complementing the cash payments, the fifth phase of the Electronic Coupon Scheme is scheduled to begin in the second week of Azar. This program provides dedicated credit for the purchase of essential goods.
- Deciles 1-3: Will receive 500,000 Tomans in non-transferable food credit.
- Deciles 4-7: Will be eligible for 350,000 Tomans in food credit, which will be activated two weeks after the initial phase.
This credit is exclusively for purchasing a defined basket of essential items—including rice, cooking oil, dairy products, eggs, pasta, and poultry—from authorized contracted stores. The funds are activated via the household head’s bank card and cannot be withdrawn as cash or transferred, ensuring they are used for their intended purpose of securing basic necessities.
This integrated support package reflects the government’s ongoing policy to provide targeted assistance to families, combining immediate liquidity through cash transfers with a structured mechanism to ensure access to essential food items.