Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.
After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals.
Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said.
Photo: CNA
Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury Administration Director-General Chen Po-cheng (陳柏誠) said.
An estimated 9 million to 10 million people would receive payments on the first day, Financial Information Service Co chairman Lin Kuo-liang (林國良) said.
If Taipei calls off work this week due to the incoming Typhoon Fung-wong, deposit dates would continue as planned, even if financial institutions are closed, Lin said.
The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee yesterday visited the Financial Information Service Co headquarters to review cash handout preparations.
As of 11am yesterday, 4,972,810 people had completed online registration through the official Web site, ministry data showed.
The money is to be distributed through direct transfer, ATM withdrawal, counter withdrawal at post offices, special rosters for rural townships and direct transfer for specific groups.
The handout can also be collected without registering online, either through ATMs starting on Monday next week or at post offices beginning on Nov. 24.
The cash handout is part of a NT$570 billion special package approved by the legislature on Oct. 17 and put into effect on Oct. 23.
The Cabinet’s Anti-Fraud Command Center said it set up an interministerial task force to address increased fraud risks involving the cash handout.
People should be cautious against scammers posing as government agencies, post offices or financial institutions, it said.
They might send fake links or messages that require personal information or for the account holder to access ATMs or online banking, claiming to have detected account abnormalities or requiring verification, the task force said.
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