Fiji’s Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa has admitted some social welfare beneficiaries did not receive allowances on August 5.
She also said the ministry had “dropped some names” and has promised to fix the issue.
She assured those who missed out that allowances would be paid in the next round of payments, which would be conducted on August 15.
Mrs Vuniwaqa also said the recertification deadline had been extended to September.
“There was a requirement that all these forms from the 21 social welfare offices around the country get sent to Suva,” she said.
“We dropped some names — that’s a fact.
“We are trying to fix all those problems.
“Some people were re-certified but they did not get their allowance on time.
“We are now fixing up all those information in head office, that somehow they have missed out, we will fix it.
“They will get their allowance.”
Mrs Vuniwaqa said that the ministry looked after about 80,000 Fijians who were under the Social Welfare Scheme.
She said during the recertification period from January to July, the ministry was concerned that more than 10,000 recipients had not visited a social welfare office to fill out the recertification form.
“For those who have missed out on the recertification process, their allowance will be suspended until they fill out the form.
“We are giving them time now, from August to September.
“In October we will be terminating those ones if they still don’t come and recertify with us.”
