APPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT-FUNDED UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE OPEN FROM 9 AUGUST 2021

03/08/2021

As announced in the 2021-2022 National Budget, the Fijian Government is supporting formal and informal sector employees on Viti Levu who are affected by the pandemic through monthly payments of $120 for a period of six months (August 2021 – January 2022). 
 
The first payment of $360 will be made on 23 August 2021 to cater for the months of August, September and October 2021. The second payment of $360 will be paid out in November to cater for November and December 2021, and January 2022.  

As per the 2021-2022 National Budget Announcement, one of the criteria you have to meet to be eligible for the first round of the $360 payment is that you must have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 7 August 2021. 

As part of the criteria to be eligible for the second round of the $360 payment, you must receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before applying for it.
 
The application period for the first round of assistance opens on 9 August at 9am and closes on 11 August at 5pm. Affected individuals, 18 years and over in Viti Levu can apply by DIALLING *161# and providing all of the following mandatory information:
 
1. Full name; 
2. Birth registration number or citizenship number;
3.  Date of birth;
4. Tax Identification Number (TIN);
5. FNPF number, if any; 
6. Voter identification number;
7. Home Address;
8. Declaration to confirm if the applicant has received his/her first jab of COVID-19 vaccine (YES or NO);
9.  If YES, provide the place of vaccination;
10. Consent for Fijian Government to access applicants vaccination details (YES or NO); and
11. Statutory declaration to confirm that all information provided is correct.
 
Individuals whose employment income has not been affected by the pandemic, as well as those who receive other forms of Government assistance, are NOT ELIGIBLE for this income support. This includes:
 
1. All civil servants;
2.  All other employees in the private sector and statutory bodies whose employment income has not been affected and therefore FNPF contributions have been normal in the last three months;
3. All those on FNPF pension scheme;
4. All students on Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and Toppers scholarship receiving normal allowances;
5. All social welfare recipients; and
6. All those below the age of 18 years.
 
It is important that individuals applying for this assistance gather ALL of the required information before dialling *161#. Incomplete submissions or submissions containing incorrect information will not be considered. Only one registered SIM card is permitted per person. There are stiff penalties for individuals attempting to double-dip on government unemployment assistance. 

Payment for qualifying applicants will start from 23 August 2021, subject to correct and complete information provided by individuals at the time of application.  
 
The Ministry of Economy will work in partnership with Vodafone, Digicel, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Fiji National Provident Fund and Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board to verify and process the applications. 
 
For ease of access, funds will be deposited directly into MPAiSA or MyCASH accounts for eligible recipients
 
Formal sector employees who qualified for FNPF withdrawals under the previous pandemic-related unemployment benefits will remain eligible for the $220 fortnightly assistance. This also includes affected formal sector employees outside Viti Levu. Employees who do not have a sufficient FNPF General Account balance, as well as those who do not prefer to access their General Account, can apply for the $120 per month benefit from Government.