Food Coupon Charge Schedule Changed, Payment Interval Extended From Five to Ten Days

According to Bourse News and Donya-e-Eqtesad, the charging schedule for Iran's food coupon program (kalabarg) has changed and will now run on the 5th, 15th and 25th of each Iranian month, extending the interval between charging rounds from five days to ten. Cash subsidy payments remain on the same five day window, from the 20th to the 30th of each month, with deciles one through three paid on the 25th and deciles four through nine on the 30th.

Donya-e-Eqtesad reported two main reasons for the longer interval: first, it gives the government more room to arrange and manage credit resources for each round; second, and more importantly, it eases demand pressure on goods covered by the coupon, since each round of charging for a household group triggers a surge in purchases. Since the kalabarg program launched in Dey 1403 (December 2024-January 2025), the range of covered goods has expanded to include items such as fruit, vegetables and diapers, adding to supply logistics pressure and making the longer interval more necessary.