The government will continue to provide Covid-19 emergency income support allowance, until December.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer revealed this while responding to a question by a lawmaker at Wednesday’s parliament sitting.

When Hoarafushi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem inquired on whether there are any plans to extend the provision of the income support allowance, the minister revealed the decision to extend it until December.

Ameer added that additional extensions will be provided “if required”.

The Covid-19 emergency income support allowance was introduced in May, for a three month period; April, May and June. A second round was announced for July, August and September.

Those eligible for the income support allowance are individuals facing employment and economic issues from March. Individuals who have been terminated, put on no-pay leave or suspended from their jobs are eligible for the allowance, as long as they were employed before March 1.

Under the support scheme, those who have been laid off or put on no-pay leave will receive the full MVR 5,000 income support allowance while individuals who have had their salaries reduced will get the difference of MVR 5,000 from their current income.

The regulations state that criminal action will be taken against individuals who provide false information to the government when applying and it has been put into effect since publication in the government gazette.

According to the Ministry of Finance, MVR 96.4 million was issued to 8,648 individuals under the income support allowance programme by October 1.