Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) members who wish to help their family members who have been affected by TC Winston will now be able to do so.

FNPF has relaxed the requirements for Natural Disaster Assistance, based on initial assessments and feedback from its members.

In a meeting yesterday, the Board approved the relaxation of the requirements as listed below:

• All members affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston can apply for the $1000 assistance and Quick Repairs housing assistance of $5000
• In addition, members, who wish to help their immediate family in affected areas, are also eligible for the assistance.
• FNPF teams will no longer inspect or visit villages/settlement or members’ houses to verify members’ residential addresses
• The $1000 assistance is available to members regardless of the classification of their dwelling (e.g. agricultural lease, squatter, village, agreement for lease, instrument of tenancy such as titles etc).
This facility would be open for the next 60 days and would be reviewed at the end of this period.

FNPF Board Chairman Ajith Kodagoda says the relaxation of the requirements to ensure that members can access their funds to help them rebuild their lives.

He says the Board has decided, with immediate effect, that all requirements related to the assistance offered by the Fund will be relaxed to ensure that our members have access to funds that can assist themselves or their families in rebuilding their lives immediately.