Housing Authority home owners are eligible for funeral benefits if they are covered under the mortgage protection insurance cover with FijiCare.

So far this year, the authority has paid out $32,500 to 13 families under this scheme.

One such recipient is Cunningham home owner Anaseini Kanainaliwa. Her husband passed away early last month.

The mother of three children said they bought their housing lot in 2004 and have since been making mortgage repayments with Housing Authority.

“As a couple, all we wanted to do was to get a lot and provide security for our children and family,” the widowed Ms Kanainaliwa said.

“We always pursued the importance of having your own property and how significant it was to all our family.

“When we signed the agreement for our property, I wasn’t aware of the mortgage protection insurance cover and all the other benefits that came with it.”

She said as a single parent now she was grateful that they not only bought a housing lot, but also signed up for the mortgage protection insurance cover.

“Since my husband’s passing, I’m forever grateful that Housing Authority was able to provide funeral benefits to assist me with my husband’s funeral arrangements,” she said.

“I wasn’t aware that Housing Authority was able to provide benefits like this, especially when one half of the party repaying the loan, passes away.

“To be able to get such news like this and when we are all in this difficult time, it was such a relief for me to hear that they approved my funeral benefit, which assisted us in taking my husband’s body across to Levuka in Ovalau.”

Ms Kanainaliwa shared that for years they struggled with repayments, bill payments and day-to-day financial needs like putting food on the table.

“The best news I got from Housing Authority is that, because of this mortgage protection cover, not only did they assist me with my funeral arrangements, but the full debt will be paid off as well,” she said.

“Although my husband has left us, he has gifted this as a legacy for my family and our children – our home that is now debt-free.”

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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