In his 2015 budget speech, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, announced the new 1 Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for households with monthly incomes of RM3,000 and below will rise by RM300 to RM950, while households with incomes between RM3,000 and RM4,000 will enjoy handouts of RM750 from RM450 previously.

Najib said that higher handout will be financed by Putrajaya’s new consumption tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which starts in April 2015.

Those earning RM3,000 and below would receive RM300 in January and May respectively with the final payment of RM350 to be paid in September.

Households earning between RM3,000 and RM4,000 would receive RM200 in the first two payments  and RM350 later.

Singletons aged 21 and above with monthly incomes below RM2,000 will also get a higher handout. Their aid will be increased from RM300 to RM350.

This would be disbursed early next year.

“In addition, the Government will replace the group takaful insurance or i-BR1M with the Family Bereavement Scheme. The new scheme will entitle the next of kin of BR1M recipients to receive RM1,000 effective for a year,” Najib said in his speech.