No decision yet on continuation of welfare boost

The Government has not decided whether it will extend the temporary 50 per cent social welfare payment top-up beyond July, saying it will first assess the impact of the ongoing global fuel crisis and its effect on public finances.

Speaking on the sidelines of the fifth Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting in Suva last week, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said any decision would depend on how the situation unfolded internationally.

“We are looking at the global shocks and we are looking at resources and then we’ll continue to update you,” she told this masthead.

More than 130,000 Fijians across six social protection programmes have been receiving the increased payments since late April under a broader $56 million Government response to rising fuel prices and living costs.

The temporary top-up is currently scheduled to end in July 2026.

Ms Kiran said Government was already managing significant financial pressures while ensuring essential services and welfare support continued.

“We are having to deal with a lot of management of the economy, looking through the cost implications and how we are having to relook at budgets to make sure that all the services continue to run and the vulnerable continue to be supported,” she said.

She said other support measures were also available, including assistance for farmers through the provision of seedlings and other farming support.

The welfare top-up is part of a Cabinet-approved assistance package funded through reallocations within the existing 2025-2026 national budget.