Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar said that the Social Pension Scheme provides allowances for those over 65 years of age who do not have any form of income or pension or have never been beneficiaries of a super­annuation scheme.

Ms Akbar highlighted that the Fijian Government introduced the Social Pension Scheme in 2013 and since then has gradually re­duced the eligibility age from 70 to 65 years of age and increased the allowance from $30 to $50 over the last few years, and to $100 after com­mitting to the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).

“Government also implemented Fiji’s National Minimum Stand­ards on the Care of Older Persons, which focuses on ensuring ade­quate care provision for our older people. The document guides and informs Government policy. The Social Pension Scheme program is targeted to reach the most vulnera­ble senior citizens,” Ms Akbar said.

“This intervention will allow the eligible beneficiaries to better manage new risks associated with the pandemic as well as ensuring their basic needs are supported. As a country, it is important that we all acknowledge that we need to do more to ensure that our senior citizens in Fiji are treated with re­spect, care and dignity.”

She added that grandparents and parents, who have sacrificed so much for their families and com­munities, deserve dignity and qual­ity care.

Waidravia villager, 75-year-old Taniela Ilisevaseva, said that his so­cial pension scheme allowance has assisted his family in buying basic needs. He thanked the Government for this allowance and the Min­istry’s staff for their hard work and dedication during this pandemic.

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