The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation says they have received reports of people who are allegedly receiving social welfare assistance which they are not rightfully entitled to.
Minister, Lynda Tabuya said the most recent report is that of families who are still receiving assistance after older persons in these respective families have deceased.
The Ministry has also received reports from the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit and the public alleging possible abuse of social welfare allowance, particularly our social pension scheme which is meant for the senior citizens above the age of 65 years.
“The Ministry is vigilant and is conducting investigations on complaints received, and Fijians caught cheating the system will be dealt with by the law.”
“As the Minister, I am humbly requesting all Fijians to refrain from abusing Government’s social protection assistance. If anyone is cheating the system, they are not cheating the Government, but they are cheating a deserving older person or destitute from receiving what is rightfully theirs.”
Tabuya indicated that in any instances where recipients are now deceased, the family members are encouraged to report this, so they can be assisted through the Fiji Government’s Life Insurance scheme for funeral services.
The Ministry will continue to strengthen the systems to ensure that the social protection allowance are given to individuals or families that meet the eligibility criteria and are in real need.
She has also requested the public to contact 3312199 if they know of someone who may be possibly abusing the social welfare scheme.
