UNHCR Winter Cash Assistance 2022 – 2023

Winter cash assistance is based on the availability of funds. This year UNHCR received limited funding for winter. Based on refugee feedback, UNHCR will distribute at least some assistance to as many families as possible.

Winter cash assistance will be provided in December 2022, and the transfers will be staggered to avoid crowding at the ATMs, and to make sure that the ATMs have enough money for refugee withdrawal. Please do not go to the ATM unless you receive a SMS from UNHCR stating that you are receiving winter cash assistance, and that the transfer has been completed to you. To make sure you do not miss any communication (SMS) from UNHCR, please ensure your phone number is recorded correctly in the UNHCR database.  To do this, please call the UNHCR Helpline and verify that the correct phone number is in your file.  If you have changed your phone number in the last few months, this will be very important to make sure you don’t miss out on any possible winter cash assistance.

The winter cash assistance transfer will be a one-time payment. Winter cash assistance will be provided in December 2022, and the transfers will be staggered to avoid crowding at the ATMs, and to make sure that the ATMs have enough money for your withdrawal. Please do not go to the ATM unless you receive a SMS from UNHCR stating that you are receiving winter cash assistance, and that the transfer has been completed to you.

Based on refugee feedback, UNHCR is providing standardized packages of winter cash assistance—meaning that most families receiving winter cash assistance will get the same amount of money from UNHCR—regardless of how many family members are on their case file or where the family lives. Also, in response to refugee input, UNHCR is providing lower amounts of winter cash assistance to each family, in order to be able to provide more families with financial support.  UNHCR is trying to be as fair as possible with the limited amount of resources it has available for winter cash assistance.

Winter Assistance will provide by UNHCR only in cash.  This cash may be provided via mobile wallets or Cairo Amman Bank ATMS (either iris-enabled withdrawal or ATM card), depending on the preferred delivery modality on the refugee case file.  Please note that other organizations may also provide winter assistance, whether in-kind or in cash.

UNHCR will inform refugees if and when they can expect winter cash assistance via SMS.  Eligible families will receive an SMS from UNHCR letting them know when the cash transfer has been made, as well as the withdrawal window. You can confirm your contact phone number and preferred payment modality (mobile wallet, CAB ATM, phone number, etc.) through the UNHCR Helpline Interactive Voice Response system.

In order to provide as many families as possible with winter cash assistance, families will only receive winter cash assistance one time, from one organization. In other words, UNHCR will not distribute winter assistance to any family that receives winter assistance from any other organization.

To even be considered for winter cash assistance, a family must have valid asylum seeker certificates, a valid home visit (done within the last two years) and have a working contact phone number on file with UNHCR.

As UNHCR has received less donations this year for the winter cash assistance programme, UNHCR is responding to refugee input by providing winter cash assistance to as many people as possible, even if it means that families will receive less money than they received in earlier years.  UNHCR will also be using uniform winter cash assistance values—meaning that most families receiving winter cash assistance will all get the same amount of money—regardless of how many family members are on their case file or health issues within the family. UNHCR is trying to be as fair as possible with the limited amount of resources it has available for winter cash assistance

UNHCR will inform refugees if and when they can expect winter cash assistance via SMS.  Families prioritized for this assistance will receive an SMS from UNHCR letting them know when their cash transfer has been made, as well as the cash withdrawal window.  Refugees living in host communities can contact the UNHCR Helpline (064008000) to enquire about their winter eligibility and assistance status through the automated voice response system. Therefore, please ensure that your phone number is up to date within UNHCR’s records, so that UNHCR can contact you. To learn more about how to update your phone number with UNHCR, please click here.

UNHCR considers all refugee families living below the poverty line as eligible for winter cash assistance.  UNHCR can only consider those refugee families that have valid Asylum Seeker Certificates, valid Home Visit (within last two years), and those with phone number that are in service. Based on refugee feedback, UNHCR will provide winter cash assistance to as many families as possible, even if it means that the amount each family receives is less than in previous years.

To report any problems with withdrawing your winter cash assistance, please call the UNHCR Helpline 064008000 and choose the “cash assistance” option offered within the Interactive Voice Response system menu. A ticket will be raised within the system and be sent to the cash assistance unit which will follow up with you on your issue as soon as possible.

Please note that if you do not report any problems with the withdrawal issues, UNHCR will not be able to assist you. To learn how to report a withdrawal problem, please click here.