Homes‑CARE is only for Fijians whose homes were damaged by Tropical Cyclones - Ministry for Poverty Alleviation

The Ministry for Poverty Alleviation, Women and Children stresses that only Fijians whose homes were directly damaged or destroyed or whose possessions were lost or damaged by Tropical Cyclone Josie and Keni are eligible to receive assistance under Homes‑CARE.

The Ministry is making this clear to people as there have been reports that some people who were not affected by the cyclones are giving false information to get the assistance provided by the government.

The Ministry says under the False Information Act 2016, any false information given to Government for the purposes of receiving a benefit is an offence punishable by law, and may result in the requirement to repay the benefit, a fine of up to $20,000 or an imprisonment of up to 10 years or any of the foregoing.

It states that spot checks will be conducted by the Ministry of Economy audit teams to verify claims and ensure that information provided is truthful and accurate.

Concerned Fijians are also being urged to dial 2273 (C‑A‑R‑E) to anonymously report suspected abuse of this programme.

The Ministry also says that only one person in a household is eligible for assistance.

Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has highlighted that they have spent $30.592 million on the Homes CARE Initiative which has helped 25,233 households.

Sayed-Khaiyum also told parliament that they had spent $9.937 million on the e-transport CARE, which has benefitted 188,978 adults and 17,821 students.

People gathered in Shirley Park in Lautoka to receive assistance under the Homes‑CARE initiative
[Photo: Ajendra Kumar]

The Acting Prime Minister also highlighted that they have so far spent $17.23 million on Farms CARE, helping 35,370 farmers and $1.136 million on Welfare CARE which has benefitted 13, 161 welfare recipients.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says audit teams from the Ministry of Economy are undertaking random verification and spot audits for households and individuals.

He had also highlighted that some people were lining up saying that they were coming to get assistance on behalf of their parents or grandparents who were sick and were bed-ridden and cannot come. Sayed-Khaiyum says when the team told them they will go to their homes, the people disappeared from the lines.

He has urged all Fijians who queue up for the initiative not to cheat as the law will catch up with them.

Under HOMES‑CARE, households with an annual income of under $50,000 who have lost items in their homes or whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the cyclones can apply to receive prepaid electronic cards to purchase materials to repair their homes and replace possessions that were lost or badly damaged.

If your home was totally destroyed or suffered severe structural damage you qualify for $7,000 in relief assistance. Those funds can go towards the reconstruction of your home and to cover the replacement costs for your lost possessions or household items, that includes television sets, furniture, houseware; anything of value in your home that was damaged by the rains and flooding.

People gathered in Shirley Park in Lautoka to receive assistance under the Homes‑CARE initiative
[Photo: Ajendra Kumar]

If your home suffered partial structural damage in the cyclones, say you had a wall collapse or your roof was blown away, you can apply for $3,000 in assistance to rebuild your home and replace your lost possessions. If your home was not severely damaged, but all or most of your possessions were lost or damaged beyond use by high flood waters you will be eligible for $3,000 in assistance.

Fijians whose homes suffered minor water damage and who had some possessions lost or damaged can apply to receive $1,000 in assistance to make any repairs and replace their lost or damaged possessions.

Those Fijians under vakavanua arrangements are eligible for $1,500 in relief assistance if their homes were severely damaged or destroyed. If only their possessions were damaged, they are eligible to receive $1,000 in assistance.

People gathered in Shirley Park in Lautoka to receive assistance under the Homes‑CARE initiative
[Photo: Ajendra Kumar]