THE new social pension scheme to benefit those who are 70 and above, and do not receive any assistance from anywhere, becomes effective mid-next month.
About 9000 people under this category will receive $30 a month, according to the criteria set by the Social Welfare Ministry and the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Social Welfare permanent secretary Govind Sami said the social pension scheme would target those 70 years and above who had no access to superannuation, any income or pension.
Mr Sami said the ministry was aware that some in this category were members of FNPF, who had taken lump sum payments and were still getting assistance.
"We want to make sure that under the social scheme those already getting assistance are not double-dipping with the ministry in terms of pension," he said.
"We will make sure that those assisted by the ministry would not be assisted again by the social pension scheme."
Mr Sami said the ministry received 700 applications for the scheme and they hoped to make the first payments by mid-February.
"We are grateful towards FNPF for entering into the agreement so that we can provide assistance to a greater number of people who quality for such assistance," he said.
FNPF chief executive officer Aisake Taito said they would provide information on those receiving assistance to the ministry.