The Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation has advised citizens who hold social protection cards to visit their commune headquarters to receive their government cash handouts via Wing agents.

The first round of cash handouts was delivered on Thursday.

The government on Thursday launched the cash handout programme for poor and vulnerable citizens during the Covid-19 pandemic. It planned to spend $25 million a month assisting 600,000 families totalling 2.3 million people.

Department of Social Wellbeing director Chhuor Sopanha confirmed at the office of the Council of Ministers on Thursday that poor recipients had to take their social protection cards to their nearest commune headquarters to collect the money.

He further said when they go, the authorities will sign them up with WING (Cambodia) Limited Specialised Bank, after which they can withdraw money at Wing booths across the Kingdom.

“Our systems have been set up. We arranged a transparent and accountable way to give out the cash. Recipients can use their social protection card numbers to open their accounts.

“Once they get cash for the first time, they will then receive announcements for the next handout every two months,” Sopanha said.

The ministry’s secretary of state Samheng Boros said at the event that after the social assistance programme was launched formally, cash is being smoothly handed over to citizens.

As of Thursday afternoon, he said more than 8,000 families had received 1.58 billion riel ($385,748).

“We know that 8,000 families came to get the cash. But we want the other 560,000 families to receive the benefit as well. So, we have to help each other to disseminate [this information].”

Boros said this month, more than 50,000 poor people requested they be classified as Level 1 and 2 for social protection cards across the country. Those who just applied for theirs can withdraw money next month.

A sub-decree signed on June 12 by Prime Minister Hun Sen said poor families in Phnom Penh and those in central city areas outside the capital who are classified as Level 1 and 2 will receive cash handouts of 120,000 riel ($30) per month from the government.

Boros said some families could get between $50 and $100 if they have many children, people with disabilities, older people or HIV-positive family members.