1. Poverty Benefit Scheme
The Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS) is a new welfare program that will be introduced in the year 2013, replacing the current Family Assistance scheme. All current Family Assistance cases will be recertified and those that qualify will receive the assistance under the new criteria.
Under the new Program assistance is targeted at 13,000 poor households and not individuals as is in the current Family Assistance program.
It is given to a maximum of 4 persons in the household. 1, 2, 3 members of the household will have different levels of payment
Maximum allowance is $150 inclusive of a $30 Food Voucher.
It is poverty based and looks at assisting the very poor in society
A new Form has been developed and all existing FA Files will be re-certified. An income threshold will be derived from the HIES data to target the 13,000 households.
This will provide coverage to about 10% of the population.
To facilitate smooth Rollover, all officers will be given IT Equipment and a work plan has been developed to ensure that all files are re-certified by the end of the 3rd quarter.
The first payments under the new scheme should be made in April 2013. Till re-certification is complete recipients will continue to access assistance under the old scheme.
New application can be lodged from the beginning of 2013 at all the social welfare offices.
BUDGET IS 22.6 MILLION
Conditions
Assistance is not a pension, it will be given for a maximum of 3 years
Upon approval, the Head of the household will have to sign a declaration that able bodied individuals in the family will be identified to undergo some skill training to help graduate the family out of the system.
Within the period of being assisted able bodied family members will be required to look for meaningful employment or engage in income generating projects. The Ministry will provide assistance for training.
Payments of assistance will be to the head of the household (primary applicant)
All payments will be done electronically.
2. Care & Protection Allowance
This assistance is directed at helping underprivileged children so that they can be given the proper care and protection. The intention is to endure that the Welfare and education of children from disadvantaged families are no compromised. It is given to the following categories:
Single mothers
Deserted spouses
Widows
Prisoners Dependents
Foster parents/guardians
Criteria for Care & Protection
Primary caregiver must be a Fiji Citizen
Children must be under the age of 18yrs
School age children must be attending school
There is no source of income, child maintenance or pension
Family living in destitution
Able bodied individuals must be graduated within 5 years.
Allowances will cease once children reach 18 years.
3. Social Pension Scheme
This assistance is for senior citizens who are 70 years and above who have no source of income and are not recipients of the following schemes:-
FNPF pension/lump sum beneficiaries
Ex Servicemen or After Care Fund
Government Pension
Poverty Benefit Scheme (PBS)
Care & Protection Allowance
Requirements
Birth Certificate or Certified copy to be attached with application form – this will be available in early January, 2013
Endorsed by a known Community Leader
Submitted at the nearest District or Divisional welfare office for processing.
Payments
Amount approved will be $30
Payments will be done monthly and will be made electronically.
There are currently 22,000 individuals over 70 years. About 7,000 are poor and currently excess Family Assistance through Social Welfare. About 6,000 others have excess to FNPF, Ex-servicemen or After Care fund and some have been lump Sum withdrawals from FNPF. The Ministry will be signing an MOU with FNPF soon so that the information can be verified. Similar agreement will be in place with The Pension Division of the Ministry of Finance to ensure there is no double dipping.
The target group will be the 9,000 individuals who do not have excess to any superannuation or have no source of income.
The Expanded Food Voucher Programme will discontinue in 31st December, 2012.
The Expanded Food Voucher Programme will discontinue in 2013. An Appeal and complaints panel will be established for clients to seek redress.