The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation has advised all recipients of government’s Social Pension Scheme (SPS) that normal payments under this scheme would remain at $30 per month.
The clarification comes from the Ministry’s permanent secretary Mr Josefa Koroivueta after recipients whose applications were approved after the first quarter received backdated payments.
“The normal payment for those eligible under Social Pension Scheme is $30 per month, however there were 2500 recipients whose payments have to be backdated to the month of January, thus they have received an amount more than $30 as it is a backdated payment,” Dr Koroivueta said.
“The beneficiaries are advised that the monthly payment for Social Pension Scheme remains $30 per month.”
Dr Koroivueta added that senior citizens who are 70 years and above can apply provided that they are not recipients of superannuation like Fiji National Provident Fund, government pension and after care fund and are not receiving social welfare assistance through Poverty Benefit Scheme or Care and Protection Program.
“A total of 6654 senior citizens who are 70 years and above in age are currently benefiting from $30 monthly Social Pension Scheme,” Dr Koroivueta added.
He said applications forms for the scheme are available in the divisional and district welfare offices.
“People can apply by filling in this form, and ensuring that it is certified by civil servant or community leader and submit with two passport photos,” Dr Koroivueta said.
He said the senior citizens in the maritime areas namely Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Rotuma have also been assisted with the $30 monthly Social Pension Scheme.
“This is primarily done to ensure that there is even distribution of the Social Pension Scheme amongst the senior citizens in urban and those in the rural and maritime areas. A total of 177 senior citizens have been assisted in the maritime areas.”
The SPS has a budgetary allocation of $3.24 million for 2013.
The recipients of social welfare assistance such as the Care & Protection Allowance and Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS) will NOT be eligible for this assistance.
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