GEORGE TOWN – Penang has decided to raise its annual aid for senior citizens and the disabled communities here from RM150 annually to RM200, in view of the rising inflation and higher living costs due to the prevailing ill effects of Covid-19.
Listed under the i-Sejahtera welfare aid programme, the move will benefit up to 217,868 recipients registered for the aid, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“The payments for this year are scheduled to start on January 25 through electronic fund transfer,” Chow said in a statement here today.
He said that the state is no longer dispensing aid in cash because of the pandemic, so all recipients must update their respective banking information to receive the payouts.
The aid will be released in stages to ensure everyone receives their payments.
Chow said those who have been unable to update their banking account details and who have missed their aid payments for the last two years will receive the arrears once they update their banking information with the state.
He reminded all recipients to update their banking details before June 30.
Chow revealed that a total of 31,162 i-Sejahtera welfare programme applicants have not updated their banking details, 26,745 of which are senior citizens, 209 are disabled, 867 are B40 single mothers, and 3,341 are B40 housewives.
Applicants can update their information online through the i-Sejahtera system or at the nearest assemblymen service centre or district office.
Initially, the aid payment was set at RM100 annually before it was increased to RM130 and again in 2020 to RM150. – The Vibes, January 20, 2022
