The Fijian Government has today paid out around $11.2 million to over 224,000 Fijians as part of its $50 cash assistance program for the informal sector. Eligible individuals have been provided these funds through their MPAiSA or MyCash digital wallets and recipients will be able to withdraw cash or purchase goods directly from any registered MPAiSA and MyCash outlets.

This new assistance is in addition to the $90 cash assistance paid out earlier to 118,000 households with a total payout of $10.6 million. However, this time around, rather than restricting the assistance per household, the $50 cash assistance was paid out to every qualifying Fijian 18 years and over in Viti Levu who do not receive any other form of assistance.

A total of around 282,000 applications were received for the $50 cash assistance. Out of this, around 58,000 applicants were not eligible as they are receiving:

• Unemployment assistance for the formal sector through the joint Government/FNPF Scheme – 22,671;
• Student allowances through TSLB – 5,012; and,
• Social welfare payments – 2,228.

The remaining 28,089 ineligible applicants were made up of those:

• below the age of 18 years;
• who had applied through multiple mobile phone numbers; and
• who provided incorrect and/or insufficient information.

Fijians are urged to use the $50 to buy groceries and other essential items at their own convenience as there are no restrictions or time limit as to when these funds can be used through their MPAiSA or MyCash money wallets.

The Ministry of Economy thanks Vodafone, Digicel, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Fiji National Provident Fund, Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board and Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation who assisted with the verifications and processing of this assistance.