Age eligibility for govt pension scheme dropped to 68 years

The age eligibility for government’s social pension scheme has been dropped from 70 to 68 years.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar says this scheme will help those who have never benefitted from any superannuation scheme like Fiji National Provident Fund, Ex Servicemen or After Care Funds.          

Akbar says the reduction in age criteria is due to a $5 million increase in budgetary allocation this year for the scheme.

The Social Pension Scheme has been allocated $8 million which leads to an increase in pension pay outs from $30 to $50.

Akbar has advised those eligible for this scheme to visit their nearest Social Welfare Office with necessary documents like birth certificate and photos to put in their application.

She says there is an increase in cases of older persons who have been abandoned, rejected and treated with cruelty in their own homes.