Single mothers are being catered under the Family Allowances and at present 1592 women receive Family Allowance under the ‘single mothers category’ says Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni.
Dr Luveni said the allowance given varies from a minimum of $60.00 a month to a maximum of $100.00 per month.
“The Ministry on 22nd September 2009 via Cabinet Decision 1693/CAB approved that the Department work towards a progressive electronic mode of payment for its recipients,” she said.
“The concept is not totally new since 3171 recipients are already using the banking mode of payment. Of this, 210 fall under the single mothers category.
Dr Luveni said as part of the progressive payment system the Ministry would be working in partnership with UNDP under the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP), to undertake a Beneficiary Perception and Attitude Survey to gather feedback and information from existing DSW clients in order to design and implement an effective Beneficiary Education and Training Program that would accompany the new payment system(s).
“The move towards electronic payment will be progressive and there will not be an immediate and sudden shift,” she said.
“The introduction will be accompanied by client awareness raising sessions, training programmes to teach recipients on how to use the new system including financial literacy training on budgeting and managing individual finances.