EXPLAINER/Everything you need to know about how to get NT$10,000 cash handout

Taipei, Oct. 24 (CNA) The Executive Yuan announced Thursday that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 (US$321) cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive Trump-era tariffs and inflation will start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12.

Who is eligible for the handout?

Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including newborns born in Taiwan before April 30, 2026, with a birth certificate.

Additionally, non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents, and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts.

For individuals who meet the eligibility requirements but passed away between Thursday and April 30, 2026, surviving family members may collect the payment on their behalf at a post office.

How to collect the handout?

From 8 a.m. on Nov. 5, online registration for the cash handout will be conducted on a dedicated website in stages based on the last digit of the applicant's National ID number or Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) number, and the payment will be deposited into the applicant's bank account once available.

Those whose numbers end in 0 or 1 can register on Nov. 5, followed by 2 or 3 on Nov. 6, 4 or 5 on Nov. 7, 6 or 7 on Nov. 8, and 8 or 9 on Nov. 9.

From Nov. 10 to April 30, 2026, registration will be open on the website regardless of the last digit of ID or ARC numbers, with the option to modify and verify information available starting Nov. 13.

Registrants must enter the recipient's National Health Insurance (NHI) card number, a National ID number or residence permit number, and a bank account number.

For children aged 12 and under, a parent or legal guardian may register on their behalf using their own ID number, bank account, together with the child's NHI card number.

Individuals can also withdraw cash at ATMs identified with the "universal cash handout" sticker, using an ATM card, a National ID or ARC number, and an NHI card number.

In addition, individuals can pick up the payment at a post office for themselves or on others' behalf by showing an NHI card, a National ID or a residence certificate.

Those withdrawing for others at a post office will also have to show an NHI card, a National ID, a residence certificate, or a household registration of those they are collecting for.

For those covered by government-run pension or social welfare allowance programs, the payment will be automatically deposited into their bank account.

Additionally, residents in three "remote areas" can register at local police stations from Friday to Tuesday, including Hualien County's Wanrong Township, Taitung County's Jinfeng Township in eastern Taiwan, and Pingtung County's Shizi Township in southern Taiwan.

When will the payouts be available?

Deposits for registered accounts and automatic deposits will become available starting on Nov. 12.

ATM cash withdrawals will be available from Nov. 17.

Post office cash withdrawals will start on Nov. 24.

The deadline to receive the payment for those methods is April 30, 2026, while parents of babies born in April next year have until May 22 to collect the cash at a post office, considering the time needed to prepare the babies' birth certificates.

Distributions in the specified remote areas will run from Nov. 12 to Nov. 25 at local police stations.

For more information, visit this government's cash handout website.