Boost eWallet for B40 Malaysians: BSN, STR Disbursements, and Cashless Aid

The Malaysian government does not disburse STR (Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah) cash directly into Boost eWallet. Instead, B40 recipients receive funds through bank transfers or BSN counter withdrawals, while a separate cashless programme called SARA credits grocery aid onto your MyKad. Understanding which channel applies to you, and how eWallets like Boost fit into the picture, saves confusion and prevents missed payments.

What is STR and who qualifies in 2026?

Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) is the federal government’s main cash-transfer programme for low-income Malaysians, administered by LHDN (Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri). The 2026 cycle continues the Rahmah framework with four payment phases across the year.

Eligibility thresholds for STR 2026:

• Malaysian citizen, aged 18 and above
• Household gross monthly income at or below RM5,000 (B40 and lower M40)
• Registered in the Sistem Pengurusan Maklumat Bantuan (SPMB) database

Payment amounts vary by household profile:

Category	Annual amount (approx.)
Household, no children	RM700
Household, 1 child	RM950
Household, 2 children	RM1,200
Household, 3 or more children	RM1,500 to RM2,200
Senior citizen (60+)	RM700
Single adult (bujang)	SARA benefits only (RM50/month)

Figures above are indicative based on 2026 LHDN guidelines. Exact amounts depend on income tier, number of dependants, and application status. Always confirm at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my.

2026 payment phases:

• Phase 1: 20 January 2026
• Phase 2: 10 March 2026 (existing recipients), 30 March 2026 (new applications and appeals)
• Phase 3: estimated August 2026
• Phase 4: estimated November 2026

How STR is actually paid out: bank account or BSN counter

STR cash goes directly to the bank account you registered in the LHDN portal. There is no option to route it to a Boost eWallet or any other standalone eWallet at this time.

If you do not have a bank account, or your registered account has changed, you collect your payment over the counter at any BSN branch nationwide. BSN is the designated government partner for unbanked and underbanked Malaysians, and this channel remains available for every payment phase.

For recipients in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, the Treasury coordinates alternative collection points including mobile banking units. Check the LHDN portal for your nearest location.

Updating your bank account details

Log in at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my with your MyKad number and registered phone number, then navigate to “Kemaskini Maklumat” (Update Details). Changes must be submitted before the cut-off date for each phase. Incorrect account details are the most common reason for delayed or failed payments.

SARA: the cashless grocery aid programme

Separate from STR cash, the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) programme delivers aid directly to the microchip of your MyKad. This is the closest Malaysian government programme to an eWallet concept, though it is not Boost, TNG or any commercial platform.

SARA recipient tier	Monthly credit
Bujang (single adult, STR-registered)	RM50
Household or elderly (STR-registered)	RM100
eKasih-registered household	RM200

SARA credits can only be spent at over 4,100 participating retailers including 99 Speedmart, Econsave, Mydin, Giant, Lotus’s, and TF Value Mart. The balance cannot be converted to cash or transferred to any eWallet. Think of it as a ring-fenced grocery subsidy, not a spending account.

To use SARA, tap your MyKad at the MyKasih card reader at the cashier. The terminal deducts the purchase amount from your SARA balance automatically. No app, no PIN, no registration needed at the point of sale.

Where Boost eWallet actually fits in

Boost eWallet is a private commercial platform owned by Axiata Digital. It is not an official STR or SARA disbursement channel. However, it is relevant to B40 Malaysians in several ways:

1. Day-to-day cashless spending: Once you receive STR funds in your bank account, you can top up Boost from that account and use it at merchants, pay bills, or buy mobile prepaid.
2. Past government promotions: In earlier years (notably the eTunai Rakyat initiative in 2020 and eMADANI in 2023), the government ran one-off eWallet credit top-ups for eligible citizens through platforms including Boost. Those promotions required a separate registration step via the myGovTP or Semakan BPIF portals.
3. Cash-out note: Since May 2020, Boost no longer supports direct cash-out from the wallet to a bank account. If you receive any credit into Boost, you can spend it at merchants but cannot withdraw it as cash. Plan accordingly.

If you are waiting for a specific government eWallet initiative to be announced for 2026, monitor the Ministry of Finance press release page and the official MyGov portal at malaysia.gov.my.

Step-by-step: collecting STR if you have no bank account

1. Bring your original MyKad and a copy to the nearest BSN branch.
2. Tell the teller you are collecting STR bantuan tunai. No advance appointment is needed.
3. BSN will verify your details against the LHDN database.
4. Cash is paid out on the spot for the current phase.
5. To avoid repeated BSN visits, open a basic BSN savings account (no minimum balance required for the basic account) so future phases go straight to your account.

Opening a BSN savings account at the same visit is worth the extra 15 minutes. It shifts all future payments from counter collection to an instant bank credit, and the account can be linked as a Boost top-up source later.

Checking your STR status and eKasih registration

STR status: Visit bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my, click “Semakan Status”, and enter your MyKad number. The portal shows your eligibility tier, registered bank account (last four digits), and payment history by phase.

eKasih registration: The eKasih database is maintained by the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister’s Department. Being listed in eKasih qualifies you for the higher SARA tier (RM200/month instead of RM100/month) and gives you priority access to other welfare programmes. Contact your nearest district welfare office (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat, JKM) if you believe you qualify but are not yet registered.

Key takeaways

• STR 2026 cash is paid into your registered bank account, or collected at BSN if you are unbanked. No Boost or commercial eWallet channel exists for STR.
• Amounts range from RM700 to over RM2,200 per year depending on household size and income.
• SARA is the cashless government programme that credits grocery aid to your MyKad, spendable at 4,100+ retailers. It is not a cash-out system.
• eKasih registration doubles your SARA monthly credit from RM100 to RM200.
• Boost eWallet removed its cash-out-to-bank feature in May 2020. Use it for spending, not as a cash storage vehicle.
• Open a basic BSN savings account if you do not have one. It costs nothing and future STR phases will credit automatically.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I receive STR directly into my Boost eWallet?

No. As of 2026, LHDN only credits STR payments to licensed Malaysian bank accounts or BSN counter payments. Boost eWallet is not an accepted STR payment channel. If a new eWallet initiative is launched, it will be announced separately by the Ministry of Finance.

I received STR into my bank. Can I then transfer to Boost?

Yes. Once the funds are in your bank account, you can top up Boost from that account through the Boost app using online banking or FPX. The RM500 daily top-up limit and your wallet limit apply.

What if my bank details in the LHDN system are wrong?

Update them at bantuantunai.hasil.gov.my before the phase cut-off date. If the payment has already been processed to the wrong account, call the LHDN Hasil Care Line at 03-8911 1000 to initiate a recovery. In the meantime, you can collect the current phase at BSN with your MyKad while the correction is processed.

Is SARA the same as STR? Can I use SARA funds at any shop?

They are different programmes. STR is a cash transfer. SARA is a ring-fenced grocery credit on your MyKad, usable only at approved retailers (99 Speedmart, Mydin, Lotus’s, Econsave, Giant, and others). You cannot use SARA at general merchants, online stores, or withdraw it as cash.

How do I know if I am registered in eKasih?

Contact your nearest JKM (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat) district office or call the JKM national line. eKasih registration is not self-service online. If your household income is at or below the poverty line, a JKM officer will assess and register your household.

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For a broader look at Malaysia’s digital payments landscape, see open finance in Malaysia. If you are weighing whether to open a savings account specifically to receive government aid, the guide on choosing a bank account in Malaysia covers basic account options with no minimum balance requirements.