How can I apply for the Ehsaas Program / Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)?

BISP Program

Do you want to know how the government of Pakistan helps families who don’t have a lot of money? This guide will explain the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in a very simple way.

Part 1: What is the BISP Program?

Section 1.1: BISP and Ehsaas: Two Names, One Big Helper

Think of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as a big helper from the government. It was started many years ago to give money to families who need it most.

You might also hear about the Ehsaas Program. This was another program with the same goal. Now, they both work together as one big team under BISP. So, if you want to apply for help, you will do it through BISP.

The main goal of BISP is to help poor families, especially the women in those families. That’s why the money is always given to the mother or another woman in the house.

Section 1.2: The NSER Survey: The Big List That Decides Who Gets Help

How does BISP know who to help? They don’t use regular application forms. Instead, they do a special survey called the NSER Survey.

Think of the National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) as a giant notebook. The government sends people to your house to ask questions for this notebook. They ask about things your family owns (like a TV or a motorbike) and how much money you make.

This information gives your family a poverty score. It’s like a grade in school. If your score is very low, it means your family needs help, and you may qualify to receive money from BISP.

The best part is that this “notebook” is always open. If your family’s situation changes (like if someone loses a job), you can go to a BISP office and ask to do the survey again. This is called a Dynamic Registry, which means it’s always being updated.

Part 2: How to Get into the BISP Program

Section 2.1: Are You Eligible for Help?

To receive help from BISP, your family must meet certain rules.

Who CAN get help?

Your family’s monthly income must be very low.
The person applying must be a woman with a valid ID card (CNIC).
Families with widows, divorced women, or people with disabilities are given priority.

Who CANNOT get help?

Your family is not eligible for help if anyone in your family:

Works for the government.
Gets a pension from the government.
Owns a lot of land or a big house.
Pays income taxes.
Owns a car.
Has a passport or has traveled to another country.

These rules make sure that the money goes to the families who truly need it the most.

Section 2.2: The NSER Survey: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Getting into the BISP program is all about completing the NSER survey. You cannot do this online. You have to go to a BISP office.

Step 1: Find a BISP OfficeFirst, you need to find the BISP registration center in your town or city. These are often called Tehsil offices.
Step 2: Prepare Your DocumentsBefore you go, make sure you have all the right documents for everyone in your family. This will make the process go much faster. Look at the list in the next section to see what you need.
Step 3: Answer the Survey QuestionsAt the office, a person will ask you questions about your family. You must answer everything truthfully. If you give false information, your family will be disqualified from the program.
Step 4: The Government Checks Your AnswersAfter the survey, BISP will check if everything you said is true. They might even visit your home to be sure. They will also take your fingerprint to verify your identity and prevent fraud.
Step 5: Wait for a MessageIf your family is approved, you will get a text message on your phone from the number 8171. This message will tell you that you are now in the program and when you will get your first payment.

Section 2.3: Checklist of Documents You Need

When you go to the BISP office, bring these documents for your whole family.

What to Bring	Who Needs It	Why it’s Important
Woman’s ID Card (CNIC)	The woman applying	This is the most important document!
Copies of ID Cards	All other adults in the family	To show who is in your family.
Kids’ B-Form	All children under 18	This is like an ID for kids.
Passport-size Photo	The woman applying	For their records.
Proof of Income (like a salary paper)	Anyone who works	A paper that shows their salary.
Utility Bills	Your house	Your electricity or gas bill.
Rent Paper	Your house	Only if you rent your home.

Part 3: The Different Kinds of Help from BISP

Once you are in the program, you can get help in different ways.

Section 3.1: Benazir Kafaalat: Money to Help Your Family

This is the main BISP program. If your family is eligible, you will get Rs. 13,500 every three months. This is called an “unconditional” payment, which means you get the money without having to do anything special. It’s to help you buy food, clothes, and other important things.

Section 3.2: Benazir Taleemi Wazaif: Money for School

This is a special program to help kids get an education. Your family can get extra money if your children go to school.

How it works: To get this money, your child must be enrolled in school and must have at least 70% school attendance (that means not missing too many days).
Girls get more: The program gives a little more money for girls to go to school, which is a great way to encourage families to educate their daughters!

Section 3.3: Benazir Nashonuma: Help for Moms and Babies

This program is for pregnant women and mothers with babies under two years old. It helps make sure moms and their young children are healthy and strong.

How it works: To get this extra money, mothers have to go to the doctor for regular check-ups, get healthy food from a special center, and make sure their babies get their shots (immunizations).
Girls get more here too: Just like the school program, this program gives a little extra money for baby girls.

Part 4: Checking Your Money and Staying Safe

Section 4.1: How to Check Your BISP Status Online with 8171

BISP has made it very easy to check if you are in the program or if your money has arrived. You can do this from home!

Use the 8171 Website:

Go to the official website: 8171.bisp.gov.pk.
Type in the woman’s 13-digit CNIC number.
Type the security code (captcha) you see in the box.
Click the button. The website will tell you if you are eligible and if your money is ready.

Use the 8171 SMS Service:

Open the messaging app on your phone.
Type the woman’s 13-digit CNIC number.
Send the message to 8171.
You will get a message back telling you about your status.

Important: You can only use these tools to check your status. You cannot use them to register for the first time.

Section 4.2: How to Get Your Money Safely

When your money is ready, you will get a message from 8171. Here’s how to collect it:

Go to a special payment center or a partner bank agent shop.
Bring the woman’s original CNIC card.
The agent will ask for a thumbprint on a machine to verify your identity.
The agent will give you the cash. Always count your money to make sure you got the full amount, and always ask for a receipt!

Watch Out for Scammers!

Some bad people try to trick BISP families. Here’s how to stay safe:

BISP will ONLY contact you from the number 8171. If you get a message from any other number, it’s a trick. Ignore it!
It is FREE to register for BISP and to get your money. If anyone asks you to pay a fee, they are trying to cheat you. Report them right away.
The payment agent is NOT allowed to take any of your money. You must receive the full amount.

Part 5: How to Solve Problems

Section 5.1: What if Your Family Changes?

If your family’s situation changes, you need to tell BISP. For example, if a new baby is born, you should take their B-Form to the BISP office to add them to your family’s file. This is important so your new child can get help from programs like Taleemi Wazaif (the school money).

Section 5.2: What to Do if Something is Wrong

If you have a problem, like if a payment agent tries to cheat you or your money doesn’t arrive, BISP has a system to help you file a complaint.

Call the Helpline: The best way to get help quickly is to call the free number: 0800-26477.
Visit the BISP Office: For bigger problems, you can go to your local BISP Tehsil office and talk to someone in person.
Use the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal: This is a phone app where you can make a formal complaint about any government service, including BISP.

Section 5.3: What if You Don’t Get In?

If BISP tells you that your family is not eligible, it might be because your poverty score was too high. There isn’t a way to “appeal” like in a courtroom.

However, if your family’s financial situation gets much worse after your survey, you can go back to the BISP office and ask for a re-survey. This means they will do the survey again to see if your poverty score has changed. This ensures that families who fall into poverty can still get a chance to receive help.