Iran Announces September Medical Subsidy Payment and Continues Targeted Welfare Reforms
TEHRAN – In line with the national budget law and ongoing efforts to enhance social welfare, the Iranian government has confirmed the schedule for the upcoming medical subsidy payment and detailed the continued implementation of its targeted subsidy redistribution plan.
Key Dates and Payments
The cash subsidy for the month of Shahrivar (September) will be officially deposited into the accounts of eligible households on the 25th of Shahrivar. For the first three income deciles, this will be complemented by an electronic goods voucher. Combined, these direct payments will total 900,000 tomans per eligible individual in these lower-income brackets.
Refining the Subsidy System
This action is part of the broader implementation of this year’s budget law, which mandates the removal of cash subsidies for the three highest income deciles (deciles 8 to 10). The resources saved from this measure are being reallocated to strengthen support for low-income families. The process of removing these higher-income households from the subsidy roster is now operational.
Household heads who have had their subsidies discontinued have until the 20th of Shahrivar to register any appeal through the dedicated support system (hemayat.sfara.ir).
Ahmad Rostami, Head of the Iranian Welfare Studies and Information Center, clarified the procedure, stating, “The Ministry of Cooperatives has been tasked since Mordad (July/August) to discontinue subsidies for approximately one million households. In the first step, households with a monthly per capita income—adjusted for family size and after deducting housing costs—exceeding 10 million tomans were removed from the list of recipients.”
Launch of the Fourth Phase of Electronic Vouchers
In a significant step to support purchasing power, the fourth phase of the electronic goods voucher scheme is set to be implemented. Ahmad Meidari, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, announced that on Wednesday, 19th Shahrivar, a 500,000-toman voucher will be deposited for households in the first to third income deciles. The timing for allocations to other eligible deciles will be announced later.
This phase is supported by the allocation of 27 trillion tomans to the scheme’s executive company, as confirmed by the head of the Targeted Subsidies Organization. The initiative aims to directly bolster the food baskets of low-income families.
Parliamentary Support and Oversight
The move has received backing from legislators who emphasize its importance for social justice. Jabar Kouchakinejad, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), highlighted the necessity of the electronic voucher system as a tool to strengthen household purchasing power and support the lower deciles of society.
He noted, “This matter is explicitly stated as a government duty in the annual budget laws and the Seventh Development Plan, showing that the Majlis has made a expert and binding decision to support the lower deciles, considering the economic and living conditions of the people.” He also stressed the importance of continuous refinement of the income decile classification system to ensure fairness and prevent any deserving families from being excluded from their rightful benefits, adding that the Majlis will oversee the complete and timely implementation of this legal duty.
Ongoing Adjustments for Economic Precision
The government’s approach acknowledges the dynamic nature of the economy. Some economic experts have pointed out that the current income threshold for defining the upper deciles may require periodic review to accurately reflect the cost of living, ensuring that the support targets those who need it most. The government has indicated that the process of refining the criteria is ongoing to maintain the integrity and fairness of the welfare system.
