What the BPT allowance is
According to MyGOV, BPT is monthly financial assistance from JKM to caregivers of persons with disabilities (OKU) or elderly people who are bedridden, unable to care for themselves and need full-time care. MyGOV says it recognises the caregiver’s responsibility for that care at home and is meant to help cover basic caregiving and daily living costs. In Malay it is also called elaun penjaga pesakit terlantar.
- It is cash, paid monthly. It is not equipment aid, and it does not supply, lend or fund a bed.
- Who is paid: MyGOV says it is paid to the lawful caregiver verified by JKM, and in the patient’s own name when a bedridden patient has no caregiver or the caregiver is not a Malaysian citizen. For a chronic patient who is not bedridden, JKM’s own page says the application is considered in the patient’s own name.
- More than one patient: JKM sets RM500 a month for each patient and notes that one caregiver may look after more than one, so the amount depends on how many people the caregiver looks after.
- Meeting the conditions does not guarantee approval. JKM assesses each application.
A Malay version of this guide is at Bantuan Penjagaan OKU Terlantar (BPT).
Budget 2027: RM600 a month announced
In the Budget 2027 speech on 9 October 2026 (paragraph 77), the Prime Minister announced that “the monthly assistance for bedridden PWDs and chronically ill patients will be increased from 500 to 600 ringgit”, in the words of the Finance Ministry’s English translation. The Malay text is the official version.
- When it starts: the speech gives no date. The Supply Bill still has to pass Parliament, and MyGOV still showed RM500 a month when we checked on 17 October 2026.
- Current recipients: we found no official statement on whether the increase is automatic or needs any action. Ask your PKMD once JKM announces how it will be applied.
- Not yet applied: the current conditions still apply, so the announcement is no reason to wait.
The same paragraph announces an increase in total assistance for OKU to RM1.5 billion for more than 300,000 people, and specialised skills training for 3,000 new caregivers of OKU to meet demand for disability care services. Paragraph 80 says the Second Chance Fast Track Policy for faster discharge from bankruptcy will be expanded to groups that include primary caregivers of family members who are OKU. Other changes for families caring at home, including tax relief, are summarised in Budget 2027 for the elderly, OKU and caregivers.
Who qualifies for BPT
MyGOV (updated 13 March 2026) sets three conditions: the applicant is a Malaysian citizen living in Malaysia; monthly household income is no more than RM5,000; and the applicant falls into one of these categories:
| Applicant category (MyGOV) | Who is paid |
|---|---|
| Caregiver of a bedridden OKU or bedridden chronic patient | The verified caregiver. This is the usual route: the family member who looks after the patient at home applies. |
| Chronic patient who is not bedridden but needs continuous treatment for at least 3 months | MyGOV lists the patient as the applicant; JKM’s page says the application is considered in the patient’s own name. The patient does not have to be bedridden in this category. |
| Bedridden OKU or chronic patient with no caregiver, or whose caregiver is not a Malaysian citizen | The patient, in their own name. |
Because the categories name chronic patients alongside OKU, the MyGOV wording does not limit BPT to people registered as OKU. Ask the PKMD whether your case needs OKU registration. If the patient does qualify as OKU, registration is explained in OKU card Malaysia.
Conditions can change. Check MyGOV or ask the PKMD before you submit.
How to apply for BPT
- Online: sign in to the eBantuan JKM portal, which is where MyGOV’s BPT application link leads.
- In person: the district social welfare office (Pejabat Kebajikan Masyarakat Daerah, PKMD) for the patient’s address can help if applying online is difficult.
- Investigation: a JKM officer prepares an investigation report confirming that the person cared for is bedridden before a decision is made.
JKM’s monthly assistance page (updated 16 June 2025) lists the documents for BPT:
- A copy of the applicant’s MyKad.
- A copy of the MyKad or MyKid of the patient, and of the family members living in the same household.
- An income letter or statement from the employer. If self-employed, an income confirmation from the penghulu, penggawa or a recognised community leader (Lampiran 4, the income or employment confirmation form), or from a Commissioner for Oaths.
- The JKM officer’s investigation report showing that the person cared for is bedridden.
- Treatment confirmation from a registered government or private specialist or medical officer, on the Medical Confirmation Form (Lampiran 5) or another suitable confirmation. For a chronic patient who is not bedridden, it must show continuous treatment of at least 3 months. The confirmation letter is valid for no more than 2 years.
- One utility bill, such as water, electricity or telephone, to confirm the address.
- The latest bank statement or bank account confirmation slip.
- Any other supporting documents, if needed.
If the patient is in a government hospital, ask for a referral to the hospital’s medical social work department (Jabatan Kerja Sosial Perubatan). It can help with BPT and with other routes, such as those in free hospital bed aid (in Malay).
BPT, BAT, BWE and PERKESO compared
| Scheme | What it gives | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| BPT (JKM) | Monthly cash: RM500 according to MyGOV; RM600 announced in Budget 2027 | The three categories above; household income up to RM5,000 a month |
| BAT (JKM, Supportive Devices / Prosthetics Aid) | Assistive devices or prostheses recommended by a government or private medical officer or a JKM officer | MyGOV’s examples are manual or electric wheelchairs, white canes and braille machines, prosthetic limbs and hearing aids. Hospital beds are not among them. Household income not above the poverty line income (PGK), per household or per capita; other urgent or deserving cases may be considered with the approval of KPKM, the Director General of Social Welfare. |
| BWE (JKM, Elderly Assistance) | Monthly cash: RM600 according to MyGOV | Citizens aged 60 and over with household income not above the current hardcore poverty line (household or per-capita average) |
| PERKESO Invalidity Pension (Pencen Ilat) | Monthly pension from PERKESO, separate from JKM | Insured workers whose invalidity began before age 60 and who meet the contribution conditions |
Each scheme has its own conditions, and whether two can be received together is for the agency to decide; ask the PKMD or PERKESO. Aid for older people is explained in JKM elderly aid (BWE), and JKM schemes for OKU, including the working OKU allowance, in JKM financial aid for OKU. PERKESO’s invalidity pension and Constant Attendance Allowance are covered in our PERKESO guide (in Malay).
BPT and a hospital bed
MyGOV says BPT is meant to help cover basic caregiving and daily living costs. It is not equipment aid and does not fund or guarantee any particular bed. These routes do name beds or lend them:
- PERKESO rehabilitation (insured workers with an approved claim): PERKESO’s rehabilitation service lists hospital beds and ripple mattresses as rehabilitation equipment, on the treating doctor’s recommendation, for the condition behind the approved claim. Government medical officers and specialists apply through PERKESO’s INSPIRE DR module; if the patient is treated privately, ask the PERKESO office how to apply.
- Armed forces veterans and eligible dependants: JHEV ATM’s patient equipment scheme names beds and mattresses (katil, tilam), up to RM5,000, with confirmation from a government hospital medical officer or specialist.
- Hospices: many lend beds to registered palliative patients, subject to stock, and some ask for a refundable deposit. See hospice and palliative care in Malaysia.
- NGOs, zakat bodies and the hospital’s medical social work department: some lend or fund equipment case by case; the medical social worker can point you to the ones that serve your area.
Applications take time, and a patient may come home from hospital this week. If you rent while waiting, our Standard 2 Function bed is RM150 a month with no deposit, even for a one-month rental, and payment is collected after the bed has been delivered and installed. One-way delivery within Malaysia costs up to RM280, confirmed for your address. A mattress is included only if the written quotation lists it; the RM199 ripple mattress is an overlay that sits on a base mattress. See hospital bed for home use, and for skin care, bedsore care at home.
Questions about the BPT caregiver allowance
How much is the BPT caregiver allowance in Malaysia?
MyGOV (updated 13 March 2026) states RM500 a month, and JKM sets that amount for each patient cared for. Budget 2027 announced an increase to RM600 a month, but no effective date has been given. JKM decides approval and the amount paid.
When does the RM600 BPT rate start?
The Budget 2027 speech (9 October 2026) gives no date, and the Supply Bill must first pass Parliament. Until JKM or MyGOV updates the rate, the official figure is RM500 a month.
Who can apply for BPT?
Malaysian citizens living in Malaysia with household income of no more than RM5,000 a month, in one of three categories: the caregiver of a bedridden OKU or chronic patient; a chronic patient who is not bedridden but needs continuous treatment for at least 3 months; or a bedridden OKU or chronic patient with no caregiver, or whose caregiver is not a Malaysian citizen, in which case the allowance is paid in the patient’s own name.
Does the patient need an OKU card to get BPT?
The MyGOV categories name bedridden chronic patients alongside OKU, so the wording is not limited to people registered as OKU. JKM asks for a medical confirmation (Lampiran 5) and its own officer’s investigation report, so ask the district social welfare office what your case needs.
How do I apply for the BPT caregiver allowance?
Online through the eBantuan JKM portal, or with help from the district social welfare office (PKMD) for the patient’s address. JKM’s document list includes MyKad copies, proof of household income, a medical confirmation valid for no more than 2 years, a utility bill, a bank statement and a JKM officer’s investigation report.
Can BPT be used to buy or rent a hospital bed?
MyGOV says BPT is meant to help cover basic caregiving and daily living costs. It is not equipment aid and does not fund or guarantee any particular bed. Routes that name or lend beds include PERKESO rehabilitation for insured workers with an approved claim, JHEV’s scheme for armed forces veterans, and hospice loans subject to stock.
What is the difference between BPT and BAT?
BPT is monthly cash for caregivers. BAT supplies assistive devices or prostheses recommended by a medical officer or JKM officer; MyGOV’s examples are wheelchairs, white canes and braille machines, prosthetic limbs and hearing aids. Hospital beds are not among BAT’s examples.
Sources
- MyGOV: Assistance for Bedridden OKU / Chronically Ill Patients (BPT), updated 13 March 2026; checked 17 October 2026.
- JKM: Bantuan Bulanan (monthly assistance), BPT rate, conditions and documents, updated 16 June 2025; checked 17 October 2026.
- MyGOV: Supportive Devices / Prosthetics Aid (BAT) and MyGOV: Elderly Assistance (BWE), both updated 13 March 2026.
- Ministry of Finance: Budget 2027 speech (Malay, official), 9 October 2026, paragraphs 77 and 80, and its English translation.
- eBantuan JKM portal.
- PERKESO: rehabilitation services, checked 15 October 2026, and JHEV ATM: Skim Bantuan Peralatan Pesakit, checked 17 October 2026.
- Rental price, deposit, delivery and payment terms: verified fact registry.
We are not a government agency and do not process applications. Rates and conditions can change; JKM and MyGOV are the final reference. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.