BISP 2025: Who is eligible and how to check your status

The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is one of Pakistan’s biggest welfare programs. It helps poor and vulnerable families by giving them cash support every few months.

In 2025, new changes were made to improve how people qualify and receive payments. If you or someone you know is part of BISP, here’s a simple guide.

What Changed in 2025?

BISP uses the Proxy Means Test (PMT) to decide who is eligible. Families with a PMT score of 32 or less can get regular cash support. Here’s what’s new this year:

• More families, especially women, were added as new beneficiaries.

• Eligibility rules were updated slightly.

• Payments were increased to match inflation (for example, around Rs 13,500 per quarter).

• Verification steps became stricter—like updating CNIC, household size, and address in the survey.

How to Check Your Status

Many people ask: “Am I included?” or “How can I find out?” You can check in these ways:

1. SMS to 8171 – Send your CNIC number (without dashes) to 8171. You’ll get a reply with your status.

2. Online Portal – Visit the official BISP website, enter your CNIC, and check your eligibility or payments.

3. BISP/NADRA Office – If your data is missing or wrong, visit a nearby centre to update it.

4. Bank/Digital Wallet – In some areas, BISP uses banks or wallets. Make sure your account details are correct.

Payments and Distribution

By March 2025, BISP had given out more than Rs 385 billion to nearly 9.9 million beneficiaries. Payments are of two types:

• Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT): Money given without conditions.

• Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT): Money linked to schooling, health, or other conditions.

The payment amounts have increased over time to help families deal with rising costs.

If You Don’t Qualify or Face Delays

If your name is missing or payments are delayed, you can:

• Update your data through the NSER/Dynamic Survey.

• Make sure your CNIC is valid and not expired.

• Contact BISP helplines or centres for guidance.

• Keep checking your status through SMS or the portal.

Why These Updates Are Important

The 2025 changes aim to:

• Add more families who were left out before.

• Make the process fairer using updated surveys.

• Adjust payments to help with inflation.

• Improve transparency with bank transfers and digital systems.

What You Should Do

If you think you qualify, follow these steps:

• Keep your CNIC updated.

• Update your household details if anything has changed.

• Check your status regularly via 8171 or the portal.

• Keep proof of family or income changes.

• Select a convenient payment method if given a choice.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 updates bring hope for millions of families in Pakistan. If your PMT score is 32 or below, you likely qualify. Even if you didn’t qualify before, the new changes might include you now. Keep your records correct, use the official tools, and stay alert for new announcements. The program is there to support those who need it most.