In response to media inquiries about the “Cash For Everyone” NT$10,000 universal cash handouts, specifically, whether individuals aged 13 and above without bank accounts are barred from online registration and must collect the handout in person, and why 13 is set as the threshold for remittance by proxy, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) stated on October 28th that the core design of the universal cash handout platform prioritizes recipient safety and prevention of fraudulent claims above all. The online registration platform allows registrants to receive the handout as a direct deposit into their bank account. To ensure the recipient is the rightful claimant, the system must therefore verify that the account is personally held by the registrant, and that the account holder's name and details match their National ID number and NHI card number. Those without a domestic bank account must collect the handout in person at post office counters with their National ID card. This is a critical mechanism to prevent fraudulent online claims.

The public has raised questions about why the universal cash handout sets 13 as the minimum age for remittance by proxy. MODA stated that this rule continues the 2023 universal cash handout model and references the Civil Code’s definitions of persons “without legal capacity” and those “limited in capacity.”

● Children under 7 lack legal capacity, so all financial transactions must be handled by their parents. Accordingly, the universal cash handout will be collected by the parents and verified using the child’s NHI card and the parent’s national ID and bank account.

● Children aged 7 to under 13 have basic judgment capacity, allowing parents to collect the handout on their behalf or to receive it via a bank account in the child’s name, offering families greater flexibility.

● Adolescents aged 13 and above can independently manage financial matters and thus claim the handout themselves.

This age tiering balances legal compliance with practical needs, allowing parents and children to select the most suitable option based on their family circumstances.

MODA emphasized that in designing the collection process, the agency placed special focus on identity verification and data security to guarantee the accurate issuance of the handouts. At the same time, the process also respects the financial autonomy of adolescents. Finally, MODA reminds the public that all official government information is based exclusively on the Universal Cash Handout website (10000.gov.tw). The public is urged not to trust unverified information or suspicious links, and to collaborate in preventing fraud.