*24/9/2020: This article has been updated following the release of LHDN’s FAQ document.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that the government will be giving out a second round of the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) financial aid, dubbed BPN 2.0. The cash aid is part of the government’s new Kita Prihatin Package, which is aimed at providing further assistance to those who have felt the negative economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In case you are unclear about the new BPN 2.0 aid and how it is being distributed, here are some frequently asked questions about the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional.

What is BPN 2.0?

Bantuan Prihatin Nasional is a one-off cash aid given to B40 and M40 Malaysians to relieve the burden of the rakyat during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was first introduced in March 2020, with payments being disbursed in the months of April and May. BPN 2.0 is a return of this initiative, announced by the prime minister on 23 September 2020.

How much money do I get under BPN 2.0?

Under BPN 2.0, recipients will get the relevant payouts as follows:

• RM1,000 to 3.7 million B40 households
• RM500 to 3.8 million B40 individuals
• RM600 to almost 1.4 million M40 households
• RM300 to 1.7 million M40 individuals.

Am I eligible for BPN 2.0?

The 10.6 million recipients who have been approved under the first BPN aid payout will be eligible for BPN 2.0. The eligibility criteria for the first round of BPN was set as follows:

• B40 households: Households earning RM4,000 and below
• M40 households: Households earning between RM4,001 – RM8,000
• B40 individuals: Single individuals 21 years and above earning RM2,000 and below
• M40 individuals: Single individuals 21 years and above earning RM2,001 to RM4,000

Single individuals 21 years are above are those who were born in the year 1999 and below.

When will I receive the BPN 2.0 payments?

BPN 2.0 will be disbursed in two stages: the first at the end of October 2020, and the second in January 2021. The amount of payment that will be given out in each phase will be in accordance with the schedule below:

Category	October Phase	January Phase	Total
B40 households	RM700	RM300	RM1,000
M40 households	RM400	RM200	RM600
B40 individuals	RM350	RM150	RM500
M40 individuals	RM200	RM100	RM300

How do I apply for BPN 2.0?

Just like with the first Bantuan Prihatin Nasional initiative, eligible recipients will not have to make any applications at all. Earlier in March, the government stressed that Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipients did not need to apply as they were already in the BSH database. Similarly, registered taxpayers with Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN) did not need to make any applications as they were in the taxpayer database.

LHDN has confirmed that those who received the first round of BPN payments earlier this year will not have to make any applications to receive BPN 2.0.

Can I appeal or apply for BPN 2.0 if I did not receive BPN before?

If you did not qualify for the first round of BPN payments, chances are you also do not fit the criteria for BPN 2.0. However, the government will be accepting appeals and new applications from those who are actually eligible for BPN, but never received the initial BPN payment.

BPN 2.0 applications can be made starting 15 October 2020 and you can find out more about appealing for BPN 2.0 here. 

How do I check for my BPN 2.0 status?

Eligible BPN 2.0 recipients can make status checks on the official BPN portal starting 15 October 2020.

What do I do if I forgot my Portal BPN password?

If you forget your Portal BPN password, you will be asked to provide the answers to your pre-determined security questions. If you cannot remember the answers to your security questions either, you are requested to contact the LHDN Care Line at 03-89111000 to reset your account or contact your closest LHDN or UTC branch.

How will BPN 2.0 be distributed?

BPN 2.0 will be given directly to all eligible recipients through the same channels as the first BPN – namely by automatic direct deposit into the bank account recognised by the BPN database.

For those who are BSH recipients, the payment will be made into the bank account that is registered in the BSH database. Meanwhile, M40 recipients in the LHDN database will receive their BPN payments directly into their bank accounts registered there.

BPN 2.0 will also be given to those who do not have a bank account, or with inactive or closed bank accounts, via cash at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). Rural residents in Sabah and Sarawak who do not have bank accounts will be given their BPN 2.0 payments through a different method starting January 2021.

What if my bank account is inactive or has inaccurate details?

According to LHDN, you are not allowed to update your bank details as the method of distribution for BPN 2.0 will be exactly the same as BPN 1.0. If the payment is made into a bank account that is inactive or incorrect, you can make a claim for cash at a BSN branch once your serial number has appeared on the online status check page.

What is the comparison between BPN and BPN 2.0 payments?

If you’re curious to know how much money was given out during the first round of aid and the second, you can compare the figures below.

Eligible Category	Cash Aid For BPN	Cash Aid For BPN 2.0
B40 households	RM1,600	RM1,000
B40 individuals	RM800	RM500
M40 households	RM1,000	RM600
M40 individuals	RM500	RM300

What if I was in the M40 category during the first BPN, but am considered B40 now?

The eligibility criteria for BPN 2.0 is based on your previous BPN payout.

What if there have been changes to my marital status since the first BPN?

If you previously received the BPN payout as a single individual, but would now like to claim under the household category, you can make a new application or appeal. If you were previously married to a BPN recipient under the household category, and are now divorced, you can make a new application or appeal as a single parent as well.

Appeals and new applications can be made starting 15 October. Of course, for both situations you must pass the eligibility criteria to be successful.

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We will be updating this page with further information as the Ministry of Finance and relevant authorities release more details, so make sure to check back if you want to stay informed and updated on the government’s cash aid.

• TAGS:
• Applying For BPN 2.0
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• BSH
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• KITA PRIHATIN
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