Social Welfare Scheme being reviewed

People who wish to apply for the Social Welfare Scheme will have to wait until August as the Department of Social Welfare is currently reviewing their policy on this scheme.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa stated this during a Talanoa Session in Wailevu in Labasa after a woman with a heart problem asked if there is any assistance that can be provided to her under the Social Welfare Scheme.

Vuniwaqa says the sickness assistance scheme was under the Social Welfare Scheme but they removed this some years ago.

She says now there are four assistance packages under the scheme which includes the Disability Allowance, Social Pension Scheme, Care and Protection Allowance and Poverty Benefit Scheme.

Vuniwaqa advised the woman that she can apply for the assistance under the Poverty Benefit Scheme but this does not mean that she will be accepted for the assistance.

She says this is because the Ministry assesses all the applications by visiting the person and making sure they meet all the criteria needed for a person to receive the assistance.

Vuniwaqa stressed that the Social Welfare Scheme is for poorest of the poorest in the country.