Over 15,000 senior citizens benefiting from Social Pension Scheme

More than 15,000 senior citizens around the country are benefitting from the government's Social Pension Scheme this year.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation received an increase of $8 million in their budget to accommodate the social pension and monthly allowance scheme under the new eligibility age of 68 that came into effect this July where eligible people now receives $50 from $30 under the Social Pension Scheme.

As announced in the budget last year the food voucher has increased from $30 to $50 with 2,324 new beneficiaries and people are now getting $60 under the Poverty Benefit Scheme.

In other projects the Ministry was able to launch a National Child Helpline with the toll free number 1325 and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect awareness program where an MOU was signed between different NGO’s to assist needy people and $500,000 was allocated for this.

This year’s National Women’s Expo at Vodafone Arena was one of the biggest achievements where 600 women were able to showcase their products and look for international markets.

The Ministry was given $500,000 for the project.

Details on the Ministry's work for next year will be known next Friday when the 2016 National Budget announcement is made in parliament.