Verification issues delay back-to-school assistance payout

Delays in the government’s $200 Back-to-School assistance payments are being caused by verification problems, with no clear timeline on when all families will receive the money.

In an interview, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel explained that delays were mainly due to incorrect or incomplete information provided in application forms.

These include wrong phone numbers, incorrect student identification numbers, and errors linked to financial account details. In some cases, forms were also submitted late.

“These differences have caused delays in verification,” he said.

Mr Immanuel confirmed that payments have not stopped and will continue until all approved applications were verified and paid.

However, he acknowledged that many applications were still being processed, even as schools enter their second week.

“The payments will stop once all applications are verified and paid,” he said.

As of now, over nine thousand applications are pending. 

Concerns have also been raised by parents who claim they were told their payments had already been processed, but the money did not appear in their accounts.

 Mr Immanuel said such cases would need to be investigated to confirm whether the claims are accurate.

“That will have to be investigated, if that is true,” he said.

While the approaching the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, he refused to give a reply.

However, the Back-to-School assistance is aimed at helping families manage education costs at the start of the school year, but delays have left some parents struggling as classes resume.

 Feedback: rariqi.turner@fijisun.com.fj