style="text-transform: uppercase;">Putra Jaya: Application and updating of information for the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) 2017 open Monday until Dec 31.The Finance Ministry in a statement said notices on approval or failure to obtain BR1M 2017 would be posted to applicants starting on the second week of February, next year.

The payment of BR1M would be credited into the accounts of recipients in stages starting from February, the ministry said.

"The government hopes the payment of BR1M will help lighten the people's burden to cope with the rising cost of living," it said.

It added that the application for BR1M and updating of information could be made manually or via online.

"Applicants should furnish complete personal details and are required to give information on the next of kin including the bank account and contactable telephone number," the ministry said.

BR1M 2017 forms can be obtained free at all Inland Revenue Board (IRB) branches, Revenue Service Centre and IRB office at the Urban Transformation Centres (UTC).

Applicants can also download the application form from the BR1M official portal at https://ebr1m.hasil.gov.my or www.treasury.gov.my.

The ministry said applicants should provide additional documents such as copies of identity cards of the next of kin or dependents, pay slips and other related documents.

The application can also be made at the BR1M official portal at https://ebr1m.hasil.gov.my.

"Online applicants only need to use a computer and copies of the application should be kept as record.

"The application of eBR1M is not designed for mobile devices," the statement said.

The ministry said the existing BR1M 2016 recipients were also required to update their information.

"Incomplete applications can cause the applications not to be processed or rejected," it said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also the Finance Minister, when tabling Budget 2017 on Oct 21 announced that BR1M for households under the e-Kasih list and those with a monthly household income of below RM3,000 had been raised from RM1,000 to RM1,200.

The prime minister also announced that BR1M for those with a monthly household income of between RM3,000 and RM4,000 had been raised from RM800 to RM900.

BR1M for single individuals with monthly income below RM2,000 had been raised from RM400 to RM450. – Bernama