Recipients assured of welfare support

The Fijian government is ending its Insurance Scheme for Social Welfare Recipients, a change that will take effect from today. However, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection assures that current welfare payments will remain unaffected by this decision.

Selina Kuruleca, Permanent Secretary for Justice and Acting Permanent Secretary for Social Protection, explained that this shift will enable the government to continue its support for vital social welfare programs. These programs are allocated approximately $184 million for the upcoming financial year. The insurance payout, which provided one-off financial aid for funeral expenses, fire losses, and accident-related claims, is the only component being discontinued.

Recipients of programs such as Family Assistance, Child Protection Allowance, Disability Allowance, Social Pension, Transport Assistance Programme, and the Allowance for Rural Pregnant Mothers will see their payments continue without interruption. Kuruleca acknowledged that this news might cause concern but reiterated the government's commitment to these beneficiaries.

Further support services, including healthcare assistance, will still be available through relevant government agencies like the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. For fire-related incidents, the government has allocated $75,000 for immediate relief and $200,000 for reconstruction assistance in the 2026/2027 financial year. Assistance for unclaimed bodies and healthcare support will also continue through the appropriate ministries.

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If you receive Family Assistance, Child Protection Allowance, Disability Allowance, Social Pension, Transport Assistance Programme, or the Allowance for Rural Pregnant Mothers, your payments will continue as normal. As mentioned, Government has set aside about $184 million for these programmes to continue in the new financial year. I understand that this news may cause concern for some recipients and their families.