Kirkuk authorities suspend social welfare stipends for over 200 families

KIRKUK – Authorities in Kirkuk have suspended monthly social welfare stipends for more than 200 families, alleging vehicle ownership among recipients, according to a statement from the Directorate of Social Supervision.

The affected families include 10 from the Hawija district, five from the Altun Kupri district, and the rest from Kirkuk’s central district. Karim Omar, a resident of Altun Kupri, expressed frustration over the suspension of his mother’s stipend. “I do own a car, but the oversight committee assumed it belongs to my mother,” Omar told 964media. “I have my own family, and the car is mine, not hers.”

Omar has called for a thorough review of the criteria used to suspend stipends, emphasizing that his mother relies heavily on the financial aid to meet her basic needs.

Attempts to contact the Kirkuk Directorate of Social Supervision for clarification went unanswered.

Iraq’s social welfare system, administered by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, is designed to support vulnerable populations, including low-income families, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly. The system provides financial assistance ranging from 100,000 IQD to 250,000 IQD ($66 to $165) per month based on family size, with an additional 50,000 IQD ($33) allocated for each child. Eligibility is reviewed annually to ensure recipients meet income and asset ownership criteria.