$360 assistance for areas outside Viti Levu to open this Wednesday

Government-funded unemployment assistance for areas outside Viti Levu opens this Wednesday.

Formal sector employees who are residing outside of Viti Levu and are affected by the pandemic will need to apply on the myFNPF app for the Government-funded unemployment benefit from this Wednesday to 1st September 2021.

The FNPF says as per the 2021-2022 National Budget announcement, the key criteria to be eligible for the assistance is the need to have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 7th August 2021.

Fund Chief Executive Officer, Viliame Vodonaivalu says individuals, who have yet to download the myFNPF app, need to do so immediately in order to apply for Government assistance.

He says they are working closely with Government to help affected individuals outside Viti Levu submit their applications, and it is important that members contact the Fund directly should they need assistance with the mobile app.

The first payment of $360 will be made from 8th September onwards for the months of August, September and October 2021.

The second round of applications and payment will be in 3 months to cater for November and December 2021, and January 2022.

As part of the criteria to be eligible for the second round of the $360 payment, one must receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before application submission.

Meanwhile, individuals who have a minimum FNPF General Account balance of $755 can apply for the FNPF COVID-19 Unemployment relief. Individuals that do not have sufficient FNPF General Account balance, as well as those who do not prefer to access their General Account, can apply for the $120 per month benefit from the Government, but they cannot apply for both.