Briefing on State Welfare Programs and the Way

Forward via an Integrated Approach

7th April, 2011

Northern Division
1. Social Protection Programs

2. Views on FNPF Reform

 Family Assistance $15 million

Care & Protection $4.4 million

INCOME Food Voucher $7 million

SUPPORT New Food Voucher $4 million
PROGRAMS
Poverty Alleviation $600,000

Grants to Voluntary
Organizations $200,000

Bus Fare nil

Background:
• Welfare scheme - “destitute allowance” for elderly
indentured Indian labourers

• Current target group: extremely poor without support

• Social Welfare allowance that does not have income

support

• Elderly parents are the responsibility of the children

NB: Social Welfare allowance is not an old age pension, not for individuals
receiving pension via FNPF or After Care Fund .
• Temporary Allowance to destitute families to
supplement income ($60-$100 per month)

• Criteria:
- Elderly 65yrs + (without income support)
- Chronically ill (without income support)
- Permanently disabled (without income
support)
• Current statistics:
Total of 24,000 recipients under FA Program

• Review of Cases (determine status)

• Welfare Graduation Program:

- Wean identifiable recipients from state welfare assistance

- Aligned to Roadmap target of 300 weaned off by 2014

 FA STATISTICS
 % of Recipients on the Family  Total # of Elderly Recipients:
Assistance [FA] Scheme:

Chronically ill
8%
7189 148
Elderly Aged 65 -
80years
Permanently
Disabled
Aged 80+

7565
92%
 Monthly Cash grant of provided to:
- families and guardians supporting children either than their own

- parents facing difficulties in providing basic care to their children

Category of payments:
$40.00 per child (Secondary School)
$30.00 per child (Primary School)
$25.00 per child (Non – School)
$60.00 per child with disabilities

 Institutional Homes also recipients of C&P Allowance

Distribution of C&P recipients by division

5000

4000

3000
Series1

2000

1000

0
Central Western Eastern Northern

Total # of C&P Recipients: 13,720

 Graduation Policy
1. Cabinet Decision of 2010 – Maximum of 5 years under state
assistance

 Mentoring & Monitoring Program:

a)Target group: children of recipients under social welfare

assistance.
b) Objective: enable students to complete their basic education,
pursue tertiary studies or get into gainful employment.
c) Strategy: Divisional Offices working closely with the Ministry of
Education in this regard.

.
Purpose: An initiative by the Government as part of the strategy to address
poverty in the nation in 2010

Budget allocation: $7 million (yr 2010)

Targeted group: all FA recipients including Care and Protection (C&P)

beneficiaries.

FV entails: issuance of monthly food vouchers valued at $30 by the approved

vendors for the program.

Approved Vendors:
1. J Santaram Stores Limited 2. New World Supermarket
3. Morris Hedstrom 4. Waimaro Holdings Limited

NB: All recipients must produce Social Welfare ID Card.

Purpose: to cushion impact of VAT increase on poor families, Cabinet
sub committee on budget agreed to expand the food voucher program.

Budget Allocation 2011: $4 million

Expanded scope: based on means test new food voucher to include

1. Elderly 70yrs not receiving any form of govt. assistance

2. Pregnant mothers and mothers of young children who fall outside

the eligibility for receiving FA allowance

3. Disadvantaged families with school children

Purpose:
improving coping capabilities of people towards self
reliance through provision of grants for:

a) income generating ($3,000)

b) fire victims ($1,000)

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Family Assistance Recipients

2. Recipients of Care and Protection Allowance

3. Recipients of Ex-Servicemen Fund

4. Fire Victims (in accordance to income thresh-hold)

Housing Funds
($200,000)

Funds with Income

Generating
Provincial Dev.
$400,000
As part of MOA with
Consolidation of Aligned to Prisons
Housing. (not in weaning 300 $100,000
Ministry’s FA recipients off Fire Victim
Budget) state Towards Grants
Assistance Rehabilitation
of Prisoners
$100,000
Purpose:
Direct funding provided to registered Voluntary
organizations, supplements role of the Department of
Social Welfare.

Budgetary Allocation: $200,000

Criteria:
provides welfare services and community based
programs aimed at alleviating poverty
improves the quality of lives of vulnerable and
disadvantaged groups
Purpose:
As per the Deed of Agreement executed between the Government of
Fiji and the Fiji Bus Operators Association on 7th January 2011, the
following category will be eligible for a concession on normal bus
fares.

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Senior Citizens aged 60 years and above ( half fare)
2. Free bus service to all disabled persons

NB: ID Cards must be provided to access the services

(Registration / facilitation of ID Cards done by the Dept. of Social

Welfare)
 Supports the compulsory life pension of members
NB: avoids reliance on social welfare assistance as a
social security measure at old age.

 Support the information sharing/ joint inspection

arrangement to be firmed up between FNPF and FIRCA.
Proposing that Social Welfare be part of the network to avoid
double dipping instances.

 Provisions of the Family Law Act on Nomination parties with

regards to FNPF member’s funds need to be made with more
clarity to avoid further liaisons for legal clarity.

 Supports re-payment features of the FNPF Reforms on

Housing/Education Assistance.