STR 2026 Guide

STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) is Malaysia's largest cash transfer program, paid directly to the bank accounts of B40 and lower-M40 households. It replaced the earlier BR1M / BSH / BKM schemes and reaches roughly 9 million recipients.

STR is the cash half of the Rahmah aid system. The food half — credited to your MyKad and spendable only at registered stores — is SARA; see the SARA MyKasih Guide. Most eligible households receive both.

How much you receive depends on your household income band and number of children:

*Single individuals aged 21–59 earning ≤RM2,500/month no longer receive STR cash — they receive SARA food credit (RM600/year) instead.*

STR pays in four phases, and within each phase payments are staggered over several days. Existing recipients are paid before new applications and appeals:

• Phase 1 — from 20 January 2026
• Phase 2 (existing recipients) — from 10 March 2026 (staggered)
• Phase 2 (new applications & appeals) — from 30 March 2026 (staggered)
• Phase 3 — ~July 2026 (estimated)
• Phase 4 — ~October 2026 (estimated)

Newly approved applicants' associated SARA credit begins from 3 April 2026. Each phase distributes roughly a quarter of the annual amount. If your phase has started but you haven't been paid, allow the staggered window to finish before treating it as a problem — then check your status (below).

Source: HASiL STR updates. Phases 3–4 dates are estimates until HASiL confirms them.

Check your STR status online:

1. Go to bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my
2. Log in with your MyKad number
3. Your dashboard shows your approval status, category/amount, and payment status for the current phase

What the statuses mean:

• Layak / Approved — you qualify; watch the phase date for payment
• Dalam proses — still being processed; check again after the phase window
• Tidak layak / Rejected — you didn't meet the criteria this cycle; you can file a rayuan (appeal) — see below
• Lulus tapi belum bayar — approved but not yet paid; wait out the staggered window

Keep your bank account details current in the portal — most non-payments are caused by closed or mismatched accounts.

1. Visit bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my and log in with your MyKad number.
2. Update household and income details — household size and number of children directly affect your amount.
3. Applications are open year-round; submit by late November to be included from Phase 1 of the following year.
4. If you haven't updated your information for 3 consecutive years, you must re-apply.
5. Make sure your bank account is active and in your name to avoid failed payments.

If your status is Tidak Layak (rejected) — or you believe your category/amount is wrong — you can submit a rayuan (appeal):

1. Log in to bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.
2. Open the Rayuan / Appeal section (available during the appeal window for each cycle).
3. Update the details that were wrong (income, household, children, bank account) and submit supporting information.
4. Approved appeals are paid in the Phase 2 (new applications & appeals) stream — from 30 March 2026, staggered — or a later phase, depending on when the appeal clears.

Appeal windows are time-limited and announced per cycle, so check the portal's notices for the current rayuan deadline.

Most eligible households get both. For the food-credit side — balance checks, eligible items, store locator and MyKad checkout — see the SARA MyKasih Guide.