FILL RECERTIFICATION FORM TO BE COUNTED: FATIAKI
Senior citizens supported under the Social Welfare Social Pension Scheme will need to update their details on the Government recertification form in order to receive their allowance.
This is the advice by Social Welfare director Rupeni Fatiaki in response to concerns from the public regarding the suspension of their monthly allowance.
He said a grace period had been granted from August to October to allow recipients time to fill out the form.
If they don’t fill the form, come November they will be terminated because we have not received any information on the recipient,” Mr Fatiaki said.
“It is important that recipients update their details in the recertification form so that we can update our system; this will also ensure that the right recipient receives the allowance and not someone else like what some are doing now,” Mr Fatiaki said.
“We are not stopping them from receiving their allowance, the assistance is available to them.
Mr Fatiaki said there had been constant consultation with village headmen and the advisory council on the importance of providing correct details on the recertification form.
“As long as they fill in the form, they will continue to receive the assistance but if they haven’t filled in those forms then that is the reason why their allowance was suspended. Details such as a change in their residential address, need to be noted on the form as well.” he said. He said those that may have missed out on their allowance from August, they would still need to fill the form for back payment.
“Of the 77, 512 recipients, 9027 are yet to be recertified.” Recertification forms are available at the Social Welfare head office along Toorak Road in Suva.
>LAISEANA NASIGA