Must read LOCKDOWN RELIEF PAYMENT UPDATE

Atotal of 6,632 working members have been paid $1.45 million for the COVID-19 lockdown relief, which opened last week on Monday 26 April, 2021.

This payment is specifically for working members who are unable to go to work due to the lockdown restrictions and are not accessing any of the active COVID-19 relief phases, as well as whose wages have been impacted either through reduced or no pay.

Altogether, 10,797 members have applied for this relief – up by 8,920 from the 1,877 applications that had been received by Friday 30 April.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Viliame Vodonaivalu said the government top up amount was $294,042 while FNPF paid $1.16m.

He added that more than 24,900 members’ names have been submitted by employers for the lockdown whitelist. The Fund sent an SMS blast earlier this week to these members who can now apply on the myFNPF mobile app to access the $220 relief.

“We still have some members who are finding it difficult to reach their employer. We request these members to contact FNPF and to provide the necessary information regarding their employer and our teams will attempt to contact them.”

He urged employers to reach out to the Fund’s team to confirm that their staff are not being paid normal wages during the lockdown period so that they are able to access their FNPF funds. Employers can call 3238999 or email the listing of their staff to employercovid19lockdown@ fnpf.com.fj. Members who cannot reach their employers can email their details to employercovid19lockdown@fnpf.com.fj. Final date to submit applications for the lockdown relief is Monday 10 May 2021.

Phase 2 Round 5

FNPF also paid out 35,407 members on Wednesday May 5, 2021 for Phase 2 Round 5 Cycle 3 totalling $8.5 million, with Government topping up 30,789 members with $7.1 million.

The next payment for Phase 2 Round 5 is scheduled for Tuesday, 18 May, 2021.

Voluntary member’s relief

The Fund has also processed 147 applications for voluntary members and has paid out more than $124,498. These members are accessing $100 - $1,100 depending on their general account balance, with no government top up.

The relief opened on Monday, 26 April, 2021 and only allows members to apply on the mobile app.

Members must have a minimum general account balance of $135 and must be a voluntary member as at 25 April, 2021, before the Voluntary members relief opened.

Home Loan assistance

A total of 73 members have been assisted to date, under the COVID-19 Response (Home Loan Assistance) which commenced 1 April 2021. The assistance enables members to dip into their Preserved

Account to help pay for their mortgage or monthly repayments.