FOUR members of a family claimed they were taken on a wild goose chase when all they wanted was assistance.
Saukat Ali, 45, of Visako Circle, Nadera, Nasinu, said his family was taken for granted by a welfare officer who assured them they would get help.
Mr Ali family said his family lodged an application in March 2009 with the necessary documents seeking funding from the Social Welfare Department.
Mr Ali's leg was amputated because of an illness. He said he was employed as a driver when tragedy struck.
He is maried with two children.
"Ever since I lost my leg I could not work long hours so I applied to social welfare because I wanted to give my two daughters an education," he said.
One daughter attends Form Six at Suva Muslim School and the another is at the Training Productivity Authority of Fiji (TPAF).
Mr Ali said the officer told his family his application was granted but they discovered it was still being processed.
Welfare officer Nitesh Ram apologised for the delay but said he needed to investigate claims that Mr Ali was still working.
"The application was nearing the end of the processing stage but then I was informed about the claims so I had to first conduct a thorough investigation," said Mr Ram.
Mr Ali said his family was indebted to his wife's brother who helped them financially.
He said he did not know what to do until he met Ministry of Women and Social Welfare volunteer Santya Narayan Swamy, a blind man who lets the ministry know of problems faced by poor people.
Mr Swamy said he plans to clarify the matter further with the ministrty.