Iran’s Commodity Coupon Program Enters New Phase, Focus Shifts to Cash Subsidies
Tehran – The Iranian government’s Electronic Commodity Coupon Scheme, a key social support program, has announced an updated schedule for its implementation. Following the distribution of the fourth phase of subsidies in the Persian month of Shahrivar (August-September), authorities have confirmed that no new phase of the coupon program will be launched in the current month of Mehr (September-October).
This month, the government’s focus is squarely on the direct payment of cash subsidies to citizens. The shift underscores the administration’s adaptable approach to providing economic support to qualified households.
Extended Deadline for Fourth Phase Purchases
According to Marjan Dabiri, the spokesperson for the Electronic Commodity Coupon scheme, heads of households in the first to seventh income deciles have until the end of the Persian month of Aban (mid-November) to utilize the credit from the fourth phase. This credit is designated for the purchase of 12 essential food items.
The fourth phase was rolled out in two stages. The first to third deciles received their credit on September 10, while the fourth to seventh deciles received theirs on September 20. The allocated credit was 500,000 Tomans for the first three deciles and 350,000 Tomans for the next four.
Essential Goods Covered
As outlined by the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare, families can use their coupon credit to buy a range of staple goods. This includes rice, oil, red meat and chicken, dairy products, pasta, legumes, eggs, sugar, and tea. In a recent expansion of the program, turkey meat has also been added to the list of eligible items.
October Focus: Direct Cash Transfers
For the month of October, the sole form of direct support will be the cash subsidy payment. The amounts have been set at 400,000 Tomans per person for the first to third income deciles and 300,000 Tomans per person for the fourth to ninth deciles. These payments are scheduled for deposit into household accounts on October 17 and October 21, respectively.
This marks a change from the previous month, where lower-income families received a combination of both the commodity coupon credit and the cash subsidy, bringing their total support to approximately 900,000 Tomans. The current phase demonstrates the program’s structured and phased distribution mechanism, ensuring continued support for Iranian citizens.
