Premier Su Tseng-chang says that new economic stimulus vouchers to be released on October 8 are expected to boost the economy by NT$200 billion, or over US$7.2 billion. These stimulus vouchers are meant to cause a boom in business after a spike in COVID-19 cases caused many people to stay home and spend less.
The vouchers will be valid until the end of April 2022. Everyone who qualifies for the program will receive five vouchers worth NT$200, two worth NT$500, and three worth NT$1,000. Altogether that's NT$5,000, or around US$180, in value.
This stimulus program differs from the one last year, where people had to pay NT$1,000 in order to receive NT$3,000 worth of vouchers. This year, people will not need to pay anything before receiving the vouchers.
Su says that all citizens born before April 30, 2022 can apply to receive the vouchers. Foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens, legal permanent residents, and diplomats are also eligible.
People can start to apply for digital vouchers after the Mid-Autumn Festival ends, on September 22. Applications for paper vouchers, meanwhile, can be submitted to convenience stores from September 25. These vouchers will then be available from October 8. People can also choose to apply at the post office, starting from October 4, with pick-up beginning from October 12.
Just like last year, people can also redeem coupons for agri-tourism and hotel services. In addition, the first four million people to apply for digital vouchers can receive a food coupon for NT$500, to support restaurants that have suffered during the soft lockdown.