Future of 50% welfare boost hinges on fuel crisis: Minister Kiran

More than 130,000 vulnerable Fijians are awaiting a decision on whether the temporary social welfare top-up will be extended beyond July.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says the outcome will depend on how the global fuel crisis develops.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran made the comment today on the sidelines of the Bebbo Pacific Parenting App launch in Muanikoso, Nasinu.

Ms Kiran said no decision had been made on extending the temporary top-up, which has been in place since late April.

"That will really depend on how the fuel crisis plays out," she said.

The top-up is part of a broader $56 million Government response to rising fuel costs and living expenses. Recipients across six social protection programmes are currently receiving 150 per cent of their normal allowance.

Ms Kiran said social protection remained her ministry's highest budget priority ahead of tomorrow's 2026-2027 National Budget announcement.

"Social protection is our highest priority – making sure that our most vulnerable are protected and they have the services that they need," she said.

She identified several additional funding priorities, including drug recovery centres for children, implementation of disability policies, an older persons policy, responses to gender-based violence and women's economic empowerment programmes.

Ms Kiran confirmed the ministry had utilised about 78 to 80 per cent of its previous budget allocation, noting that some project funding had been redirected during the financial year to support the social protection top-up amid the fuel crisis.

"We have to make sure that the allowances are made available to our vulnerable while also looking at infrastructure needs and service provision across all our vulnerable people," she said.