No need for increase: Social Welfare

The Social Welfare Ministry has not requested for any additional funds for its Family Assistance and Poverty Alleviation program in the 2010 national budget.

As of September this year, the Ministry has assisted over 24,600 people through the Family Assistance Program.

The Ministry confirmed that the $20 million allocated for this purpose in the 2009 budget was sufficient to cater for ongoing and new applications.

The Ministry said it has not submitted any additional request for an increase in the 2010 budget and hopes to cater for additional applications within its existing budget.

It said the strengthening of the review process and the transfer of cases to care and protection is also intended to free up funds to cater for any new cases next year.

The Ministry was also allocated $1 million under the Poverty Alleviation program which enabled them to assist 203 families with grants for housing assistance, income generating projects and emergency assistance to fire victims.

However, the Ministry said any changes to the Income Tax Threshold and VAT will always be appreciated by the poor and the needy.