The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation currently gives allowances to 25, 259 beneficiaries who are part of the Poverty Benefit Scheme.

Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says with the increase in their budget allocation to $1.7million, the beneficiaries can expect an increase in their monthly assistance.

“The allowance ranges from about $20 to $110 per house hold so that plus the food voucher of $50. The increase now for that allowance ranges from about 35 to 127 dollars per household, plus the food voucher."

Vuniwaqa says the increases will also depend on the number of family members eligible to be part of the scheme.

All food vouchers will no longer be restricted to one supermarket only.

The food voucher program for rural pregnant mothers will also be increased from $30 to $50 a month.