KUALA KUBU BAHARU: The government is reviewing the criteria for welfare benefits in order to help middle-income households (M40) that have fallen into the B40 bracket.

Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said policies and guidelines must benefit the target groups.

She was referring to reports that M40 households have slipped into the low-income bracket (B40).

"I have asked agencies under the ministry to review policies and guidelines that no longer suit current circumstances.

"There is no specific timeframe for this. But ministry staff must always be vigilant about changes, especially those raised by me either in a speech or on other platforms," she told a press conference after a Ramah Mesra event here, today.

Nancy also urged people who find children living in poverty to report this to the authorities.

This comes after the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) revealed that 95 per cent of children polled in its "Living on the Edge" study in Kuala Lumpur were living in relative poverty.

Nancy said more than 130 types of government assistance are available for the poor.

She added that the government is also exploring other methods - through the Malaysian Social Protection Council - to improve children's living standards.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1048318/govt-widening-social-safety-net-help-distressed-m40-families