Own a ‘modern’ car or have a big mobile phone bill? No subsidies for you. The government will use a wider basket of data points to determine which citizens are eligible to receive commodity subsidies in a bid to trim welfare rolls and better target subsidies to the truly needy, a Supply Ministry source tells Al Mal. According to the source, the amended standards will make ineligible citizens who pay EGP 1,200 or more per month on electricity, spend more than EGP 500 per month on mobile phone bills, pay for more than one mobile phone line, or own a “modern car.” The new standards will also take into consideration monthly rent payments and applicants’ place of residence.

Background: Supply Minister Ali El Moselhy had said earlier this month that the government is looking at scrubbing from the nation’s subsidy rolls citizens who earn EGP 7,000 or more per month. The Sisi administration is looking to revoke ration cards from some 1 mn holders who do not need to rely on food subsidies. The new eligibility criteria will officially be announced at the end of December, El Moselhy said previously.