The monthly social pension paid to senior citizens who are 70 years has been increased by the Bainimarama government.
A government statement says, the approved the increase will benefit 9,675 senior citizens who do not have any form of income or pension, or who have never been part of a superannuation scheme.
The Social Pension Scheme was first introduced in 2014 by the Bainimarama government and has a budgetary allocation of $3.2 million.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni says that the increase will come into effect from next year.
She says senior citizens will receive a pension allowance of $50 a month from 2015 an increase of $20.
Apart from the Social Pension Scheme, the Ministry also administers the Bus Fare Concession Scheme.
The scheme is the outcome of an agreement signed between the Bainimarama Government and the Fiji Bus Operators Association in January, 2011 where elderly persons over the age of 60 pay only half the fare and people with disability are allowed to travel free of charge in buses.
A total of 39,789 recipients are currently assisted which, includes 38,393 Elderly Beneficiaries and 1,396 Beneficiaries for Person’s living with disability.
