Iran Announces Reforms to National Cash Subsidy System to Enhance Accuracy and Fairness
In a significant move to refine its social welfare apparatus, the Iranian government has issued a revised directive for the implementation of its targeted subsidy law. The new amendments, announced by the Subsidy Targeting Organization, are designed to standardize procedures, increase administrative precision, and ensure the equitable distribution of cash and livelihood subsidies to eligible citizens.
A Drive for Greater Precision and Integration
The core objective of this administrative revision is to create a more unified and reliable system. The changes mandate a strict synchronization of citizen data across all relevant government platforms, with a specific emphasis on aligning with the national database maintained by the Civil Registration Organization of Iran. This integration is expected to:
- Enhance Accuracy: Improve the precision of the household identification and classification process.
- Prevent Fraud: Eliminate opportunities for submitting false or duplicate claims for subsidies.
- Streamline Payments: Create a more efficient and transparent mechanism for the distribution of financial aid.
The directive is effective immediately and is binding for all related executive bodies.
Key Changes: Stricter Protocols for Household Separation
A central feature of the amended directive concerns the process for separating members from a household, a procedure that can directly impact subsidy eligibility. The new rules introduce stricter verification protocols:
- Mandatory Civil Registration: Any request to separate a member from a household head will only be processed after the relevant changes are fully registered and verified within the Civil Registration Organization’s official system (ncr.ir).
- Judicial Oversight for Disputes: In cases where an individual over 18 seeks separation due to incompatibility with the household head, the process now requires a valid and definitive ruling from a judicial authority. Without a court order officially registered in the national civil system, no amendments to household status will be made.
Subsequent Economic Assessment
Following the successful registration and verification of any new or modified household structure, the Ministry of Cooperation, Labour, and Social Welfare will conduct a new economic assessment. This “decile-banding” process will determine the household’s updated economic status, which in turn dictates the level of subsidy support.
This comprehensive update underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its social safety net through improved governance, technological integration, and legal rigor, ensuring that support reaches its intended beneficiaries effectively and fairly.