BD134m paid in cost-of-living support to 137,481 in 2025

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Cost-of-living support payments in Bahrain totalled BD134 million in 2025, benefiting 137,481 people, the Ministry of Social Development has revealed.

In a written reply to Shura Council member Adel Al Maawda, the ministry said an additional BD23.9m was disbursed in social security assistance and BD25.3m in disability allowances during the same period.

The ministry noted that cost-of-living payments were increased in January 2026 by BD20 across all income bands. Current monthly payments stand at BD130 for households earning BD0–BD300, BD97 for those earning BD301–BD700, and BD75 for incomes between BD701 and BD1,000. Social security beneficiaries receive the payment automatically without the need to apply.

Social security assistance is provided as a top-up for families and individuals whose income does not meet basic living requirements. Since January 2022, minimum monthly payments under Law No. 32 of 2021 have been set at BD77 for a single person, BD132 for two people, and BD28 for each additional family member. Recipients also benefit from electricity and water bill discounts ranging between BD10 and BD20.

Eligible groups under the law include widows, orphans, divorced women, women proven to have been abandoned by their husbands, and people aged over 60 with insufficient income or support. The scheme also covers families whose sole breadwinner is serving a final custodial sentence of more than one month, children up to 18 — or older if continuing education until their first university degree — and unmarried daughters aged 18 to 60 without financial support. People with disabilities and individuals deemed medically unfit to work are also eligible.

Monthly disability allowances amount to BD200 for five categories — complete paralysis, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, severe intellectual disability and multiple disabilities — while other disability classifications receive BD100.

The ministry said it allocates BD1.2m annually to support civil society rehabilitation centres and BD71,124 per year to help fund mobile home-care and home reh a bilitation services in partnership with civil society organisations.

As of January 2026, there were 17,725 social security beneficiaries and 15,535 disability allowance recipients. In addition, 192,530 people were receiving separate cash compensation linked to the removal of meat subsidies, with BD31.8m spent under that scheme in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2025, the ministry ran 444 training courses benefiting 7,980 productive family members and operated 45 production units used by 321 beneficiaries.

Looking ahead, the ministry said the government is finalising a comprehensive social survey to update assessments of minimum basic living needs and guide future policy.