(September 12, 2025) — The Taiwanese government has approved a new round of cash handouts amounting to NT$10,000 (US$329) per person, with foreign spouses of Taiwanese nationals among the qualified recipients. The National Development Council (NDC) projects the program could lift the country’s GDP by 0.415 percentage points.
The Cabinet on Thursday passed a special relief act earmarking NT$236 billion for the distribution. The measure, which still requires a third reading in the Legislature, could take effect by early October, paving the way for payments to begin by late October.
Under the act, total expenditure is capped at NT$570 billion — NT$550 billion for approved allocations and NT$20 billion reserved for future industrial support. Of this, NT$236 billion will fund the handout program, which mirrors the NT$6,000 cash assistance carried out in 2023.
Who Will Qualify
Recipients will include citizens with household registration, nationals without household registration but holding residency permits, overseas officials and their dependents, as well as foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals with valid residency.
The Ministry of Finance estimates around 23.56 million people will benefit, requiring NT$235.65 billion for payouts plus NT$350 million in administrative expenses.
Distribution Channels
As with the previous NT$6,000 scheme, the NT$10,000 will be distributed through five options:
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Online registration for direct bank transfers
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ATM withdrawals (expanded to 16 banks nationwide, including Taipei Fubon Bank)
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Post office withdrawals at 1,294 branches
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Direct deposits for designated groups such as pensioners, veterans, and low-income households
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Roster-based distribution for inmates, institutionalized children, and residents in remote areas
In isolated communities like Shizi in Pingtung, Wanrong in Hualien, and Jinfeng in Taitung, police stations will help facilitate the distribution.
Economic Impact
Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun said cash distribution will begin within a month after the budget is finalized, with details to be announced soon. A task force composed of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the Financial Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Cabinet’s anti-fraud unit has been formed to oversee the rollout.
NDC Deputy Director Chen Mei-chu noted that past stimulus programs significantly boosted economic activity. For instance, the Triple Stimulus Vouchers in 2020 raised GDP by 0.53 points, generating NT$101.6 billion in benefits, while the Quintuple Vouchers produced up to NT$201.3 billion in short-term gains and NT$250 billion in long-term effects. The NT$6,000 handout in 2023 contributed around 0.3 points to GDP growth.
Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin added that the new relief measure could potentially add as much as 0.5 points to GDP, depending on spending patterns. He emphasized that directing consumer activity toward conventions, concerts, sports events, and tourism could maximize the handout’s benefits.
If the budget clears in October, most recipients will need to claim their cash by April 2026, with a later deadline for newborns until May.
